Grenada Today - July 31st, 2004

President of the Grenada Bar Association (GBA), Ruggles Ferguson says the local Bar is committed to the provision of legal education to the public.

In an exclusive interview with Grenada Today on Wednesday, Ferguson said that in recent years the Bar has been focusing heavily on public legal education which the organisation sees as having far reaching and positive effects on the lives of citizens.

He stated that GBA has been carrying out the task through its weekly radio programme called, "The Law and You" which is aired on WEE-FM radio network and the weekly television programme, "Legally Speaking" on Grenada Cablevision Community Channel-6.
Ferguson noted that the law association is the umbrella body representing over eighty (80) lawyers on the island and that the organisation is committed to the provision of legal training for its members and support staff and various stakeholders on an ongoing basis.

He also said that the bar an a professional organisation is committed to improving the administration of justice on the island.
The local Bar of Lawyers is preparing to celebrate Law week 2004 in October and a Lawyers' in Concert function later in the year.

Ferguson recalled that earlier in the year, the Bar held seminars for law clerks and lawyers involved in the practice of criminal law.

He also said that only last week, the association held its Sixth Annual Sir Archibald Nedd Memorial Lecture at Norton's Hall in St. George's under the theme, "Striking a balance between Freedom of Expression and Protection of Reputation; Are criminal libel and sedition laws absolete in a modern democratic society?

Meanwhile, Ferguson said he believes that seminars involving the public such as the one held last Saturday on "Copyright", is needed.

He said that these seminars serve the interest of the public and that the Bar will continue to hold seminars that can benefit the public.

Ferguson said he believes that the seminar was timely since "we are in the peak of the carnival season" and that calypsonians have often complained about piracy of their work.