In the November 5th edition of In Focus, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Adlai Smith, discussed the impact of judge-alone trials in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The legislation, passed in 2024 and amended in 2025, was modeled on systems in Antigua, Belize, as well as Trinidad and Tobago to streamline trials and protect witnesses from intimidation or interference.

Unlike jury trials, which can be lengthy and influenced by bias, judge-alone trials focus on agreed-upon issues, producing clearer, written judgments.

Smith emphasized that these trials maintain fairness, offering the same safeguards as jury trials, including the right to appeal and measures against judicial bias.

Smith in his closing statements stated: “I am concerned about the level of witness interference in the federation.” He highlighted that the government frequently uses witness protection which is costly, and that prolonged trials increase these expenses, diverting funds from areas like health and education. This warning was made:

Director of Public Prosecutions, Adlai Smith.