The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE and LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Reporters

THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions disposed of 206 criminal matters last year as part of a wider push to cut the court backlog, according to prepared remarks distributed by Attorney General Wayne Munroe, though he did not read that section during his Senate contribution.

The figures, included in remarks circulated in Mr Munroe’s name, showed the office resolved matters through convictions, plea agreements, nolles, acquittals and discontinuances in cases where defendants had died.

Between January and December 2025, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions recorded 27 convictions, 63 plea agreements, 74 nolles, 37 acquittals and five matters discontinued because of the death of the defendant.

The prepared remarks framed the figures as evidence of a deliberate effort to confront the longstanding backlog through prosecutions, plea negotiations, strategic case reviews and the removal of cases no longer viable for prosecution.

The remarks also pointed to a major expansion of the office’s prosecutorial ranks.

In 2022, the office operated with fewer than 20 prosecutors. It now has 46 attorneys, including prosecutors assigned to the Northern Office in Grand Bahama, with recruitment continuing toward a goal of 60 prosecutors before the end of the year.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has also partnered with the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Electronic Monitoring Unit to strengthen compliance with bail conditions and support applications to revoke bail where breaches occur.

The office is also reviewing historic cases.

According to Mr Munroe’s prepared remarks, prosecutors took part earlier this year in a major backlog assessment involving 375 matters identified by the court. The exercise helped identify and address inactive matters, deceased defendants, outstanding warrants and cases that had already been completed.

The office also plans to expand training for prosecutors in financial crimes, cybercrime, human trafficking, extradition matters and other emerging areas of criminal law.