Bahamas Numbered Acts

WHEREAS pursuant to section 3(1) of the Children and Young Persons (Administration of Justice) Act, the Chief Justice may by Order establish in any magisterial district a Juvenile Court which shall exercise such jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by the Children and Young Persons (Administration of Justice) Act ;

AND WHEREAS the Chief Justice has established a Juvenile Court in Grand Bahama, New Providence and North and Central Abaco ;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to section 3(3) of that Act, the Minister after consultation with the Chief Justice may by Order in respect of any Juvenile Court appoint a panel of not less than six persons from whom the members, other than the Chairman, of the court at any sitting thereof shall be selected as hereinafter provided ;

AND WHEREAS every appointment to the panel shall be for a definite period ;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to section 3(4) of that Act, at any sitting of a Juvenile Court the court shall consist of the Chairman and two other members, one at least of whom shall be a woman, selected by the Chairman from the panel of persons appointed under section 3(3) of the Act ;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to section 6 of the Act, in the exercise of any jurisdiction conferred upon a Juvenile Court the members thereof shall enjoy immunities as are enjoyed by a magistrate in the exercise of his jurisdiction ;

AND WHEREAS no Order was made by the Minister to appoint a panel in respect of Grand Bahama and New Providence since 30th September, 1997 which is the expiration date of the last Order ;

AND WHEREAS no Order was made by the Minister to appoint a panel in respect of North and Central Abaco ;

AND WHEREAS Juvenile Courts in Grand Bahama and New Providence have been sitting since 1st October, 1997 consisting of persons who were selected from a panel of persons who were not appointed as juvenile panel members in accordance with the Act ;

AND WHEREAS Juvenile Courts in North and Central Abaco have been sitting since 2nd August, 2001 consisting of persons who were selected from a panel of persons who were not appointed as panel members in accordance with the Act ;

AND WHEREAS it is considered necessary to validate the said appointments and any acts performed in the exercise of the functions of the panel members :