The Editor, Sir:

After 18 years in government I am at a loss as to what the previous government was doing with the justice reform programme. I recently disposed of two cases in the courts and I am mystified as to how we could sit back for so long and allow the judicial system to become so outdated and ineffective.

I believe our Justices of the Peace should be given a central office building from which petty matters should be dealt with; for example: child maintenance, rent session hearings to enforce the rulings of the court.

Prison sentence

Three weeks prison sentence should be given to the party that fails to honour the ruling of the court. The poor man can't afford a lawyer and should not be asked to understand the complexities of the law as it stands. Yes the law will always be complex and should be a shackle to all of us. I am therefore suggesting that urgent efforts be made to make the settlement of disputes much easier for the poor Jamaicans.

Payments should be made within four weeks once a ruling has been made and should not be subject to review. We have to change the entire course or else we are doomed to fail. What is wrong with us why we have to take so long to do simple things? The poor can't afford to empower the rich to enslave them.

I am, etc.,

ANDRE' A. O. Wellington

Christiana, Manchester