Luanda - The president of the Superior Council for the Judiciary (CSMJ), Joel Leonardo, on Thursday in Luanda urged judges to work towards guaranteeing and facilitating easy access of citizens to justice.
The venerable judge spoke at the swearing in of the presidents of the District Courts of Benguela, António Santana, of Huambo, António Sebastião, and of Lobito, Mateus Domingos.
Joel Leonardo reiterated that the citizen is the priority in the exercise of judicial activity, having underlined the need to implementing, more quickly, the principle of access to justice, enshrined in the Constitution of Angola.
In this sense, he defended the articulation with the bodies of the State administration and Justice, namely the National Police and the Home Affairs Ministry, through coordination mechanisms, as well as the strict control of the operation and level of productivity of the registry offices.
According to Joel Leonardo, the traditional authorities, when called to the courts, should also deserve particular attention and courtesy, as they bring procedural interveners.
The president of the CSMJ also expressed his concern about the inconvenience that citizens experience in the face of the postponement of trials, especially in financial expenses, means of transport and constant displacement of witnesses or deponents, without being heard.
“The postponement of the trials is dramatic. There will have to be greater control regarding the observance of the time and the consolidation of the act, and only in very thoughtful circumstances should we postpone the judgments”, he considered, guiding towards the recognition and encouragement of employees who stand out in the exercise of their functions.
Joel Leonardo highlighted, on the other hand, the economic potential of the provinces of Benguela and Huambo, which is why he requested that the presidents of the District Courts be sworn in for greater attention to precautionary measures, labour disputes and the protection of foreign investors.
The new leaders of the aforementioned courts, on the other hand, were aware of the difficulties to be faced and expressed their willingness to work in favour of the affected guidelines, with the collaboration of all at the level of the respective provinces.
For António Santana, who will direct the Benguela District Court, it is important to bring together those who work in cases of various natures and to harmonize, at a local level, the relationship between the Judicial, Executive and Legislative powers, in order to carry out the principle of the democratic state and the rule of law.
“Whatever is proven, the decision will be taken so that justice is properly administered”, stressed the judge, hoping to overcome the phenomenon of delays.
Likewise, the president of the Huambo District Court, António Sebastião, considers the mission thorny, as it coincides, among other factors, with a time when the country is not economically well, but refers that with a “united class” there will be conditions to answer the challenges.
Meanwhile, the judge of Law Mateus Domingos, president of the Court of the Comarca of Lobito, referred that the fact that he has already been a magistrate in this institution, since 2014, could provide a better perception and ease of work, on the basis of continuity. VC/SC/DOJ
