While not giving the names of those who will fill the post, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves assured that a senior magistrate and a magistrate have been appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
The two appointees are Vincentian women, with the appointment of the senior magistrate in a permanent capacity while the individual appointed to serve as magistrate will do so temporarily for one year, Dr. Gonsalves disclosed on radio on march 20.
Three vacancies in the Magistracy were thrown up recently with the retirement after many extensions of magistrates Zoilla Ellis-Browne and Bertie Pompey, and the elevation of Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne to the position of High Court Judge (Ag) in St Lucia.
Ellis was replaced by former Assistant Superintendent of Police John Ballah back in 2023, and the former Commissioner of Police Colin John was also appointed to one of the Senior Magistrates positions.
However, the judiciary was presently understaffed, the prime minister acknowledged.
“We do not know what is going to happen with the chief magistrate if she is going to continue as a judge or if she is going to return to resume her position as chief magistrate,” Gonsalves said.
“If she returns, then we would have as intended, another senior magistrate to have therefore 5 magistrates which would be the most we have had,” he explained.