Permanent Secretary in the Justice Ministry, Carol Palmer, says the challenges facing members of the media who cover court cases may not be addressed before the reform of the justice system is completed.

Several reporters had complained that they were ordered to sit at the back of the courtroom during hearings, and this has severely hampered them from adequately recording the proceedings at Corporate Area courts.

A Gleaner newspaper article had quoted reporters as saying they were encountering significant difficulties in covering the proceedings because of the lack of a microphone system.

Unable to hear

The reporters also said the issue was compounded as the clerks of courts on whom journalists rely for details that they are unable to hear during the sittings were instructed not to speak with them.

Responding to questions on the matter at a press briefing yesterday Mrs. Palmer pointed out that the existing court system is not geared to accommodate members of the media.

"We have to recognise that our justice system and the operations of the court were set up for the parties to the dispute and their attorneys, the judge sitting in adjudication to the matter, and anybody else was considered a spectator," she said.

According to Mrs. Palmer, very little can be done to address the situation as, until the reform of the justice system is completed, the judges do not have an option.

She said that under the current reform process there are plans to provide public address systems, as well as other technological support for media access in the upgraded courtrooms.