With 2023 Eastern Caribbean Law Year officially underway today, there’s been a call for the appeal court to have more frequent in-person sittings.
This is according to Chief Justice Dame Janice Perriera, as she delivered the opening Law Year address, coined under the theme, “the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Navigating the Changing Tides”.
She makes the clarion call for more appeal court in-person sittings, once travel logistics can be ironed out.
Justice Perreira lauded the establishment last year for the specialized Family Division of the Court, first set up in Antigua/Barbuda.
The Family Division is being considered as providing the public a “one-stop shop” for resolving a myriad of family-related disputes.
This, as well as, accessing a number of social and family-related services in what Dame Perreira describes as a uniform, user-friendly and consistent manner, within a single space.
For years, she says, the court has considered specialized divisions as not being merely desirable, but necessary for increasing operational efficiency, which will in turn improve customer-satisfaction and the building of greater confidence in the justice system.
She’s of the view that the court needs adequate space for delivering that service.
Dame Perreira was addressing an in-person Law Year opening sitting in Anguilla, while other jurisdictions joined virtually.
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Chief Justice gave an update on the recommended establishment of what she noted as a criminal mediation programme.
She says the framework for mediation in appropriate criminal matters specifically those summary in nature is well underway.
It’s designed to more meaningfully engage and positively impact on child and youth justice throughout the sub-region.
Eastern Caribbean Supreme court Chief Justice, Dame Janice Perreira.
