July 24th 2019 is set to be a momentous day for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
(ODPP) as we ceremonially launch the National Prosecution Service (NPS).
The role, function and independence of a Director of Public Prosecutions are so integral to our
democracy that the framers of our Constitution entrenched key provisions relative to this Office.
All prosecutors function at the behest of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Over the years, the
Office of Director of Public Prosecutions has functioned under changing leadership and support
staff.
The launch of the National Prosecution Service (NPS) as the new face of the Office of the Director
of Public Prosecutions reflects the enhancements in programs, policies, protocols and principles
that have taken effect over the last decade and projects that will futuristically transform the
organisation. There was a grand move in 2015 to house all Prosecutors centrally and to streamline
our operations so that all prosecutors will be directly managed by the Director of Public
Prosecutions. Hitherto, prosecutors at the Magistrate Court were generally assigned by the high
command of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.
The assignment of the first summary court prosecutors as part of the National Prosecution Service
was forged through the alliance of the then Commissioner of Police, Mr. Reynold Hadaway (now retired) and then Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Colin Williams, now Justice of the High Court of Belize.
A memorandum of understanding now exists between the current Commissioner of Police, Mr. Colin John and the current Director of Public Prosecutions (Ag.) Miss Sejilla Mc Dowall to continue the assignment and integration of police officers as support prosecutorial staff of the National Prosecution Service.
Apart from support prosecutorial staff, other police officers have joined the team at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (National Prosecution Service) on attachment to perform various duties.
The Office has grown in leaps and bounds. We intend through this Launch of NPS to demystify
the functions of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and to sensitize broadly about how the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has evolved into a National Prosecution Service.
The Launch of the National Prosecution Service (NPS) is scheduled to take place on July 24th
2019 from 9am to 12pm at the House of Assembly Hall under the theme “S.P.E.A.K. U.P. – It can be YOU!”. Geared towards witness empowerment, the theme entails the acronym “S.P.E.A.K.
U.P.” which is meant to encourage witnesses to Share Personal Encounters and Accurate
Knowledge – Unleash Power”.
The launch of the National Prosecution Service will serve as a platform to showcase publications
which emerged from the making of the National Prosecution Service.
It will feature several
specially invited guest speakers, local, regional and international. A short film dubbed “Speak UP”
will also debut at this event and there will also be other reveals including the launch of a new
publication – the Witness Code. It promises to be a very engaging ceremony as we spotlight the
work of this very fundamental .