While the judiciary must maintain a proper distance and independence in relation to the two other branches of government, it cannot separate itself entirely from those branches, especially the executive branch.
That's the assertion coming from retiring Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne who was at the time addressing a special sitting of the High Court in Grenada last week which was held in his honour.
Sir Brian said the judiciary is bound to interact with the executive in terms of proper judicial administration, obtaining and mobilising financial and other resources, and financial and administrative accountability.
In addition, the executive and judiciary must work together in identifying the evolving needs of the administration of justice, and in providing for and responding to those needs.
"And just as the executive and the legislature must respect the boundaries which secure judicial independence, so must the judiciary respect the constitutional status, powers, authority and function of the executive and the legislature," Sir Brian told the special sitting.
The retiring legal luminary spoke of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court facing many challenges.
He said the civil procedure rules have been "on the books" for over six years and there are many issues that have emerged which need to be examined.
"We face overwhelming delays and backlogs in the processing of criminal trials which contribute to the growth in crimes that all our States and Territories are experiencing," he said.
Sir Brian is hopeful that the steps that were initiated about three years ago to reform the criminal procedure in a pilot project based in St. Lucia will come to fruition so as to tackle the delays in criminal proceedings. He identified a number of areas of administration that need to be addressed.
The state of the lower judiciary which includes the Registrars, Deputy Registrars and Magistrates are concerns of Sir Brian.
"We need to do something to improve their status, their performance and their prospects," he said.
Also of concern is the administration and infrastructure of the courts at all levels.
Sir Brian also left some words of advice to the local Bar headed by its President Ruggles Ferguson.
He encouraged the local Bar to give greater and meaningful support to its own professional body.
He said the fact that the Grenada Bar Association is recognised to be one of the most dynamic associations in the jurisdiction of the court, there is no reason for that organisation to rest on its laurels.
