There are issues that need attention by the powers that be to ease the work load of the Magistrates.

These are the words of India High Commissioner Prabakar Jha in his opening speech at the 2008 National Conference of Judges and Magistrates at the Naviti Resort this morning.

Jha referred to Judge John Connors report on the Commission of Inquiry into the Magistrate's Courts in Fiji and the 10 year Sir Beattie Report recommendations saying that he hopes these are implemented as they are way overdue.

Recommendations in the two reports included the introducing of digital sound recording in all Magistrate's courts, that all magistrates be provided with computers and to be connected to the internet, that the Judges, Masters and Resident Magistrates renumeration be fixed by the Higher Salaries Commission and that legislation be passed to allow this and that a plan for the proper serving of the maritime courts be submitted to the Chief Justice.

The Indian High Commissioner also said there are some discussions on training resident Magistrates to India for further discussion at the policy level of both the Fijian and Indian Government.

Professor Jha has called on the National Judicial Education Committee to look into exchange programs between Magistrate's courts, regionally and internationally.