KINGSTON, Jamaica — Members of the legal fraternity on Wednesday morning marched in downtown Kingston as they sought to reaffirm their commitment to improving the delivery of justice in Jamaica.

The initiative, led by Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, was held in observance of Judiciary Day.

“The importance of the day is to emphasise the importance of the role and function of the judiciary in our democracy and to build upon the strong traditions of the past and also to recommit ourselves in service to the people of Jamaica and to improve the delivery of justice,” Sykes told Observer Online during a civic ceremony at the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

“So it is not about…patting ourselves on the back but really to bring to the forefront of our citizens that the judiciary is an integral part of the governance structure and that our primary role is to interpret and apply the laws of the constitution in a just and fair manner to ensure that our society remains a law-abiding one and also to do it quickly and efficiently so that persons come to the courts to resolve their disputes rather than seek other means that may not necessarily be appropriate. So that is the purpose of the day,” the chief justice explained.

Members of the legal fraternity gathered in numbers to show their support for Judiciary Day which is being observed this year under the theme, “Preserving Justice, Honouring History, Embracing the Future”.

(Video: Garfield Robinson)