A group of lawyers has formed themselves into a group called “Committee of concerned lawyers” saying that Dominica is at cross-roads today.
In a press release from the group, they state that the mission of the Committee of Concerned Lawyers is “to educate its members, to encourage collegiality and to maintain cooperation between its members and the judiciary, to promote the honour and dignity of the legal profession, to foster the highest professional standards of integrity, honour, and courtesy in the legal profession, to assist the public in accessing legal services, to provide and recognize public service as it relates to this mission, and to advance the fair and effective administration of justice in Dominica for all.”
“We live in an unstable and uncertain world which is complicated by pandemics, huge inequality, and poverty in and between persons and countries and challenges to the rule of law, especially among governing elites which threatens peace and prosperity around the world.” The group stated.
“Our problems here in Dominica are made worse by the fact that we are so small and vulnerable not only to external shocks such as natural disasters but to internal policies and conduct which threaten community solidarity and weaken our capacity to withstand these pressures.”
The release continues, “We are in a situation that requires all hands to be on deck and as lawyers, we believe that we have a responsibility to do what we can, each according to his own capacity, to help protect the freedoms and rights that have been won for us through sacrifices and struggles of those who have gone before us. We have therefore constituted ourselves as a Committee of Concerned Lawyers with the following objectives.”
To maintain the honour of the legal profession and, more specifically, to promote the honour and dignity of the members of the Committee of Concerned Lawyers; to increase and develop the membership of the Committee of Concerned Lawyers, recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion; to eliminate bias in the legal profession and the justice system and in particular to promote the development of a culture of equality before the law.
The group also aims to promote the fair and effective administration of justice; to increase public understanding of and respect for the rule of law, the legal process, and the role of the legal profession in Dominica; to develop and implement educational programmes respecting the Constitution and laws of Dominica among the youths and school children; to hold our public authorities accountable under the law.
According to the group, they intend to work for and encourage the enactment of modern and just laws, including human rights, law reform, and a fair legal process; to assure meaningful access to justice for all citizens and residents in Dominica; to preserve the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary; to provide benefits, programmes, and services which promote the professional growth and quality of life of the Committee of Concerned Lawyers and to foster and encourage cooperation and goodwill among the members of the legal profession and in particular the members of the Committee of Concerned Lawyers; to serve as a network system to facilitate the professional growth and maturity of the members of the Committee of Concerned Lawyers.
Finally, the group says it also aims to provide members of the Committee of Concerned Lawyers with opportunities for mentoring, and social events; to establish, foster and encourage networking and good relations with like-minded regional and international organizations; to ensure that the Committee of Concerned Lawyers has the infrastructure, financial resources, personnel, technology and facilities to accomplish its mission and goals.