Judiciary not an ivory tower, says chief judge |14 April 2010
The four-day workshop was funded by the United Nations Development Fund and conducted by lecturers from the Seychelles Institute of Management.
Those who took part included social workers and representatives of the attorney general’s chambers, the National Assembly, the prison, the police and the Seychelles Bar Association.
“We have now demonstrated that in insisting on independence for the Judiciary we are not seeking to be an ivory tower cut off from those who have an interest in what we do. We take our stakeholders, government and non-government actors seriously enough that we are prepared to invite them over and sit with them to discuss and craft a strategic plan,” Mr Egonda-Ntende said.
“Independence of the judiciary is on everyone’s lips and probably mind in Seychelles. There are many perceptions out there on that subject. Much has been written about the same. At times it has been discussed in a very bizarre way with proof for the thesis advanced based on a photograph taken at an official state function. We wish to reaffirm the people’s right to express themselves freely on subjects of their choice including the independence of the judiciary.
“In crafting our vision to be ‘a centre of judicial excellence, independent and inspiring public confidence’ we have reaffirmed our belief not only in the independence of the judiciary but that we must at all times work to uphold the same. We shall be unwavering in our commitment to the Independence of the judiciary,” he said.
Mr Egonda-Ntende said the workshop delegates did not disappoint him but had in fact done well.
“If the past four days have been hard work I wish you to know that the harder work starts now with implementation of our plan,” he said, adding the judiciary should be inspired by the four days’ work which showed there were many things it agreed upon with its partners.
“There are many things we know we can achieve. We know now the external threats that pose a risk to achieving what we want. We know the internal weaknesses that will hold us back from achieving that which we desire and know that we can achieve,” he said.