A judge has praised Bermuda's court system as being among the best in the world when it comes to delivering speedy justice.

The comments from Puisne Justice Carlisle Greaves demonstrated that the once lengthy backlog of cases awaiting trial at Supreme Court is no more.

In 2005, it was taking up to a year for defendants to have their cases heard before a jury. The problem was partly blamed on staff shortages within the Department of Public Prosecutions.

Former director of the department Vinette Graham-Allen was praised by Governor Sir John Vereker last year for working with court staff and defence lawyers to cut the waiting time from committal date to trial in half and virtually eliminating the backlog of cases.

Now, said Mr. Justice Greaves, all but two pending trials will get underway before the end of April. The remainder are only being delayed until May to accommodate the requests of lawyers.

"That's a record. We can try anybody in this country at any time. I don't know any country that can say that," he told a gathering of potential jurors. "We can try you any time we feel like it and that's very good. That's come from a lot of hard work and co-operation through all the agencies."

The jurors in question had just seen the case they were due to hear adjourned because the defence lawyer is sick. However, the judge told them they should feel proud of the system, and urged: "Don't feel you're wasting your time."