Divorce Applications Increase in 2021

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – During the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, more matters, like divorces, made their way through the court system.

Jasmin Brown takes a look.

The Judiciary of The Bahamas 2021 annual report has revealed the courts did not have as rough a year as 2020, when the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed and The Bahamas was subject to heavy restrictions.

Chief Justice Sir Brian Moree walks OurNEWS through the 152-page document that show a slight uptick in civil matters.

According to the report, there were approximately 1,813 new applications filed in 2021 compared to the 1,176 filed in 2020.

Family registry matters were also up in all categories, as adoption, guardianship and mental health applications saw slight increases.

But divorces saw the biggest jump from 579 in 2020 to 709 in 2021.

The Chief Justice says special focus will be placed on the family courts.

As it relates to criminal matters, the 2021 report focused on bail management as it noted there was a decrease in applications made to the supreme court.

It noted, “There is a marked reduction in the number of bail applications made to the supreme court since the power to grant bail for most criminal offenses was restored to the magistrates.”

The report also noted that virtual hearings are cited as a means for increased efficiency in 2021.