Bridgetown, Barbados – November 8, 2023 – Officials from the Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions (CAJS) and the office of the Chief Justice of Barbados convened today at the Supreme Court in Bridgetown to discuss strategies to enhance the Barbados Judiciary and justice sector.
This pivotal meeting, attended by Bevil Wooding, CAJS’s Executive Director, and The Hon. Sir Patterson Cheltenham K.A., Chief Justice of Barbados, explored opportunities presented by recent advancements in technology to improve the delivery of justice in Barbados. Topics of discussion included the modernization of probate administration, cybersecurity, alternative dispute resolution, and enhancements to improve electronic filing and case management using artificial intelligence.
The Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions is the only regional institution dedicated to developing technology solutions for advancing the delivery of justice across the Caribbean.
Speaking on the importance of the collaboration between the CAJS and the Barbados judiciary, Chief Justice Cheltenham expressed optimism for the future, stating, “The judiciary is committed to modernizing the justice system to better serve the needs of Barbadian citizens. Our partnership with CAJS has been a significant step in this direction. We are fully committed to leveraging emerging technologies and to strengthening our development cooperation agreement with CAJS to fast-track the digital transformation of the justice sector in Barbados.”
Bevil Wooding, Executive Director of CAJS, emphasized the practical benefits of the collaboration: “CAJS works in collaboration with governments, legal professionals, and other stakeholders to promote solutions and best practices for improving the quality, accessibility and efficiency of justice services.”
He shared that responding to the needs of courts requires a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes efficiency as well as user-centered approaches to justice delivery.
“Our focus as a regional agency is on adopting holistic approaches that not only incorporate the right technology, but also reimagine service delivery and invest in local skill and capacity development,” Wooding added.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties agreed to enhance their collaboration by focusing on practical solutions, including increased use of mediation and alternative dispute resolution in the settlement of disputes, to enhance the Judiciary and justice system in Barbados.
ABOUT CARIBBEAN AGENCY FOR JUSTICE SOLUTIONS (CAJS)
The Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions (CAJS) is a regional non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and facilitating the modernization of justice systems. Through technology-enabled solutions and knowledge sharing and capacity building programs, CAJS works to increase access to justice and improve the quality and effectiveness of justice delivery in the Caribbean.
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