PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders, will lead a delegation of Judges and Court officials to Barbados for an itinerant sitting and a series of outreach activities, including the CCJ Academy for Law 7th Biennial Conference.
From October 16-20 -the Conference themed “Criminal Justice Reform in the Caribbean: Achieving a Modern Criminal Justice System”.
The three-day program will provide a platform for leaders and practitioners to present their ideas to Attorneys-General, Ministers of National Security, judicial officers, Directors of Public Prosecution, Commissioners of Police, Commissioners of Prisons, attorneys, law students, and members of civil society.
Through its Conference, the Academy intends to facilitate dynamic discussions and generate practical recommendations that will effect meaningful change in the criminal justice systems of the region to ensure a more sustainable and equitable future for us all.
Some of the regional and international presenters scheduled to attend and participate include Philip J Pierre, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Chair of the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement, Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St Kitts Nevis, Professor David Ormerod, Professor of Law at the University College London and Dr. Chile Eboe-Osuji, former President of the International Criminal Court.
The Conference will also cover several topical issues surrounding the regional criminal justice system, such as sentencing, judge-alone trials, evidence-gathering, the hearsay rule, anti-gang legislation, and plea-bargaining.
The effect of crime on development will also be featured.
During an interview to discuss the Conference, the Chairman of the Academy, Justice Winston Anderson, CCJ Judge, explained that the theme was selected in “recognition of the natural and pressing need for comprehensive reforms within the region’s criminal justice system.
The Conference aims to explore and address the challenges and opportunities associated with achieving a more effective, fair, and efficient criminal justice system in the Caribbean region.”
As part of the Conference activities, the Academy will also host a Regional Town Hall session titled “Getting a Grip on Crime: Public Perceptions and Practical Solutions” on October 18, which can be attended in person or virtually.
In Barbados, the CCJ will also conduct hearings at Courtroom 1 of the Court of Appeal of Barbados on Monday.
This is the CCJ’s second itinerant sitting in Barbados; the first was a hearing in the Original Jurisdiction (OJ) matter of Shanique Myrie v the State of Barbados, which took place in 2013.
The hearings, which will be open for public viewing, include the Barbadian matter of Alex Tasker v the United States of America and Che Jain Ping and Xiao Guang Zhao v Guyana Power & Light Inc from Guyana.
The Court will also deliver judgment in James Ricardo Alexander Fields v The State, a criminal law case from Barbados.
In addition to the settings and the Conference, the Court will conduct sensitization sessions with the Barbados Bar Association and the Barbados Chambers of Commerce next Tuesday to increase awareness and understanding of the Court’s Original Jurisdiction.
These sessions are part of a public education campaign funded by the European Union through the 11th European Development Fund.
In its original jurisdiction, the CCJ determines matters involving interpreting and applying the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, noted that as a regional court, it is essential for the public to view the CCJ at work as it contributes to building greater trust and confidence in the Court.
“It has been ten years since the CCJ last sat in Barbados. Since then, we have heard many cases from that State. The cases have varied enormously in their ranges of importance and complexity. For Barbados, as with all States in CARICOM, the CCJ seeks to live its mission of providing accessible, fair, and efficient justice. While the Court’s judges and a cross-section of its staff are in Barbados, we shall be taking advantage of the opportunity to get to know better our sister isle, its judicial branch, and its wonderful people.”
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