Supreme Court formally re-opens |12 January 2016

The formal re-opening of the Supreme Court took place yesterday, starting with a religious service held at St Paul’s Cathedral in Victoria.

After the service the judicial family then proceeded to a march through Victoria followed by a motorcade to the Palais de Justice at Ile du Port for the second part of the opening ceremony.

The theme of this year’s re-opening is ‘Access to justice for all’.

The religious service was animated by the two main churches in Seychelles, the Roman Catholic through Bishop Denis Wiehe and the Anglican Church through Reverend Danny Elizabeth. Also present were representatives of various religious denominations in Seychelles like the Bahaï Faith, Pentecostal Church Assembly, Hindu faith and the Seventh Day Adventist.

The religious service

It was Reverend Elizabeth who welcomed the congregation which consisted of all members and staff of the Judiciary including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Mathilda Twomey, justices and judges of the different courts of Seychelles, attorneys and lawyers.

Readings, prayers and hymns animated the service which sought the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the new judicial year.

Verses like “enable us Lord to fulfill our mission of effectively and completely administering justice to all manner of people in accordance with the laws and constitution of this nation in a timely, impartial and independent manner”; “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty” reverberated in the cathedral.

In his sermon Bishop Wiehe described the theme ‘Access to justice for all’ as a very interesting one. He mentioned examples of the justice institution of two countries – the United States and Australia -- where these two countries have established the ‘Access to justice for all’.

He said the US Department of Justice established such an office to address the access-to-justice crisis in the criminal and civil justice system. It has as mission to help the justice system efficiently deliver outcomes that are fair and accessible to all, irrespective of wealth and status. The office works within the Department of Justice, across federal agencies, and with state, local, and tribal justice system stakeholders to increase access to counsel and legal assistance and to improve the justice delivery systems that serve people who are unable to afford lawyers. It is guided by three principles which are promoting accessibility, ensuring fairness and increasing efficiency.

Regarding the Australian Federal Civil Justice System where the government is also making justice more accessible to everyone, its justice system is less complex and more accessible. Access to justice is about ensuring Australians receive appropriate advice and assistance, no matter how they enter our justice system. Australia’s access to justice goes beyond courts and lawyers (although these are important too) and the bishop explained it incorporates everything people do to try to resolve the disputes they have, including accessing information and support to prevent, identify and resolve disputes.
He added that this broad view of Australia’s access to justice recognises that many people resolve disputes without going to court and sometimes without seeking professional assistance.

He urged the country’s justice system to maintain justice for everybody.