Court of Appeal Reports Progress in Judicial Reform Efforts

Contact: John Emmanuel

Monday, August 20, 2001 - As efforts towards the setting up of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) continue in St. Lucia and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) States, the process of judicial reform within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) continues full speed ahead. In the words of the Executive Assistant to the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeals Leon Symister, the reform process, which will greatly improve the judicial landscape in the sub-region, will serve as a boost to the setting up of the CCJ.

“Our justice reform programme is moving forward independent, of the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).  However once our judicial system is strengthened, once the people of the region recognize that they have a judiciary that is fair, efficient, and impartial - that can only lend support ultimately to the establishment of a final court of appeal for the region,” Symister said.

Meantime the Court of Appeal is hoping to further sensitise OECS nationals to the workings of the Court as it prepares to usher in a new law-year beginning September 1, 2001. According to Symister, “Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Sir Denis Byron is really concerned that the people of the OECS become familiar with the functions of the Court. That is very important at a time when the Court has embarked on this Justice Reform Programme, a programme that will revolutionize the justice system in the sub-region, ensuring that justice is meted out more expeditiously, efficiently and with less partiality. Therefore we believe that the greater the public education programme, the better it will be for the region, its people and for those who dispense justice.”

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