The government was not represented at this morning's ceremony at the Law Courts which marked the opening of the Forensic Year.

The ceremony was attended by President George Abela and addressed by Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri.

Chief Justice Camilleri noted that Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici is indisposed, and he wished him a speedy recovery. He noted that despite being indisposed, the minister had continued to work as best as he could.

He expressed regret that the Parliamentary Assistant at the Ministry of Justice could not attend, because of another official commitment.

During part of his speech Dr Camilleri urged the government to commit more resources to the administration of justice. He regretted that the governemnt did not appear to give the administration of justice the value it deserved and it appeared that the government gave priority to activities which it felt generated revenue for the state and oiled the wheels of the economy.

Should that be the case, the Chief Justice said that justice should at least be given equal importance as the economy sector, not least because the administration of justice within a reasonable time was essential for economic activity. No investor would go to a country where litigation or debt recovery took many years.

(See separate story on the speech by the Chief Justice).