Former assistant superintendent of police, John Ballah has been appointed a magistrate to preside over the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court.
When he takes the oath of office next week, Ballah will fill a post that had been vacant since now Justice Rickie Burnett was appointed a judge in April.
Ballah will become the only public servant in the magistracy, as all of the others are employed on contract.
Up to the point of his appointment, Ballah was head of the Legal Research and Policies Unit of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.
The unit aims to improve the service offered to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the swift execution of justice.
Among other things, the unit aims to develop and enhance case file preparation and investigation and reduce the timeline of case files readiness for trials.
Ballah was called to the Bar in October 2016.
Since then, he has had a stint at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and was among counsel for the Crown in the Veron Primus murder trial last December.
With his appointment, Ballah brings to two the number of former police officers who are magistrates, the other being Bertie Pompey, a retired deputy commissioner of police.
This article was updated to reflect the name of the post to which Ballah has been appointed.
Congratulations mr Ballantine
Your information is in correct his appointment brings to three ( not two) the number of former police officers to be appointed as magistrate the others being Bertie Pompey and Moët Malcolm
Dear Richard,
The article clearly says, “With his appointment, Ballah brings to two the number of former police officers who are magistrates, the other being Bertie Pompey, a retired deputy commissioner of police.”
The article did not speak to how many former police officers have been appointed magistrates but how many are (currently are) magistrates.
Congratulations, praying that your job will be done without fear or favour. Amen