Judicial training underway to tackle backlog of criminal cases, speed up trials

A judicial training programme aimed at reducing criminal case backlogs and speeding up trials was launched on Monday under the Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) initiative.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Attorney General Anil Nandlall said the project directly targets long-standing delays in the criminal justice system and seeks to prevent future build-ups of cases.

He explained that the backlog is driven by several systemic issues, including “weaknesses in police data capture, paper based evidence management systems, limited digitisation of corrections processes,” which have created bottlenecks for investigators, prosecutors and the courts.

“This training is timely because we all recognise that crime now perhaps more than ever assumes priority in the region… Crime is now accepted as a public health hazard in the Caribbean,” Nandlall said.

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Roxane George, said the training is intended to improve how efficiently criminal cases are handled and ensure timely hearings before the courts.

She said the programme will further enhance their capacity and capability to better address the criminal cases that will come before them so as to ensure the fair hearing of cases within a reasonable time by an independent impartial tribunal.”

“Judicial education programmes will keep them on the cutting edge so that they maintain the high standards of judicial conduct embodied in the code of conduct,” she said.

European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni, said strengthening trust in the justice system is central to improving its effectiveness.

He highlighted the importance of protecting those involved in legal proceedings, stating that there is a need for protective access to justice and the need for protecting victims and witnesses in order to enforce trust in the judicial system.

“So the focus is rather on the issue of trust in the system, empowerment,” he said.

The four-day training programme will focus on improving court efficiency and reducing delays through enhanced skills and modern tools. Topics include jury orientation, complex criminal trials, defences, no-case submissions, vulnerable witnesses, voir dire, DNA evidence, digital evidence, and artificial intelligence in the justice system.