A.A. PHILLIPS J. (DELIVERING THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT):

INTRODUCTION

The subject-matter of this suit is a female child who is now an infant. At the time this suit was instituted in 1995, she was however a baby of just a few months old. It has taken us all just over 7 years to reach the end of this matter in the High Court and for this delay I apologise. The wheels of justice grind very slowly in this country of ours and it is about time something concrete is done by all of us that serve at the Temple of Justice to ensures that matters filed in court are dealt with speedily especially matters such as this one where the life and the stability of a new born child are at stake. Without the necessary sanctions in our Rules of Court there is precious little a Judge can do to ensure that there are not unnecessary delays occasioned by the absence of counsel and unwarranted requests for adjournments without being accused of sacrificing justice and the right to be heard at the altar of haste. …