MEDIA RELEASE - Caribbean Judiciaries launch JUSTconnect, an online community learning and sharing platform for Caribbean judges, judicial officers and professionals of the region

24 May 2023

 Today, May 24, 2023, marked the commencement of a new level of collaboration among Caribbean Judiciaries with the launch of JUSTconnect, an innovative approach to judicial education through an online community learning and sharing platform for Caribbean judges and judicial officers and professionals of the Caribbean. The Heads of Judiciaries of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana- the pilot countries for JUSTconnect, were joined in person at the Judiciary Training Centre, located at the Waterfront Judicial Centre, Tower D, International Waterfront Complex, Port of Spain by Judges and judicial administrators from their countries as well as from Jamaica and The Bahamas. 

Also in attendance in person were other Judges and legal professionals of Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, and representatives of the US National Center for State Courts (NCSC). The launch was a hybrid event with a number of other local and foreign representatives who attended the launch virtually. 

The Anti-Crime Program, of the Department of State of the United States of America, in its effort to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the criminal justice sector, enhance regional capacity to deter drug trafficking and smuggling, and to improve citizen security by increasing the effectiveness of law enforcement institutions, has collaborated with Caribbean judiciaries to develop JUSTconnect. In the words of The Hon. Mr Justice Ivor Archie, Chief Justice of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, during the development phase of the project, “the collaboration borne out of shared experiences augurs well for our respective judiciaries. Our collaboration is enhanced through, among other things, the sharing of material, regional meetings of judiciaries, and online discussion fora.” 

The JUSTconnect pilot project is funded by the United States’ Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the implementing organisation is the NCSC. The site is governed by a regional governance committee of judicial educators in accordance with the JUSTconnect Constitution which was executed at the May 24 launch. 

Hosting and management of the platform and courses is done by the E-learning Unit of the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago’s Department of Court Administration, the staff of which have been working from inception and concept with the NCSC’s team. 

Starting with a pilot featuring the judiciaries of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Guyana, judicial professionals from thirteen Caribbean territories, will eventually, among other things, be able to share content with each other, conduct regional meetings of judiciaries, undertake online training at anytime and anywhere at their own convenience and pace, participate in online discussion forums, and assess the progress of the initiative as it evolves. 

The use of the platform will reduce the expenses incurred with traveling for in-person courses making training more accessible to judicial professionals. This will promote increased participation in judicial education courses which keep judges and judicial professionals up to date and will, ultimately, improve the delivery of justice in the Caribbean. 

JUSTconnect will contribute to the building of stronger Judiciaries and partnerships across the region. 

Various speakers at the launch echoed the desire for increased collaboration. JUSTconnect seeks to fulfil this need. 

Here are some quotes from the speakers at the launch event: 

Mr Jeffery Apperson – Vice President, International Programs Division, NCSC 

“We are proud to partner with Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados and the U.S. government and INL and all the countries of the Caribbean region…to build JUSTconnect together. To always move forward together, sometime with small steps, sometimes with big steps. I see JUSTconnect as a big step.” 

The Hon. Justice Gillian Lucky, J.A. – Chairman, The Judicial Education Institute of Trinidad and Tobago 

“The benefits of JUSTconnect include professional development, accessibility, networking, cost-effecitveness, availability, knowledge sharing and efficiency.” 

“You can be assured that JUSTconnect will be a platform that will promote diversity, inclusivity creativity in its programme content and methods of delivery.” 

The Hon. Mme Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, O.R., C.C.H. – Chancellor of the Judiciary of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana (Ag.) 

“Guyana sees JUSTconnect as offering us a unique opportunity to collaborate and share our resources, and to establish a new paradigm of judicial education and learning.” 

“Education and having JUSTconnect as another measure to enhance our judicial education is, indeed, a treasure.” 

“I feel confident that after this launch other judiciaries will come on board and new chapters in judicial education and judicial training will be written.” 

The Honourable Sir Justice Patterson Cheltenham, K.A. – Chief Justice of Barbados 

“The advent of JUSTconnect, even if participation is limited initially, represents an invaluable addition to the legal armory of the Judiciary.” 

Her Excellency Candace A. Bond – Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 

“We are pleased to partner with the Judiciaries of Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago, the countries that will pilot this very important initiative, understanding that the greatest barrier to training is in fact the time and expense related to travel. The virtual world of JUSTconnect addresses both concerns, so we are very confident that JUSTconnect is the perfect tool for judiciaries to build capacity by facilitating training opportunities for judges and judicial professional, thereby advancing our shared goals - supporting effective and sustainable justice sector solutions.” 

The Honourable Mr. Justice Ivor Archie, O.R.T.T. – Chief Justice of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 

“The JUSTconnect platform has been specifically designed with the judicial education needs of our judges and judicial officers at the forefront, from the initial concept through to its fruition. It will offer an extensive array of courses across various areas of interests, both legal and non-legal, ranging from substantive law to case management and judicial wellness.” 

“It is always a pleasure to work with partner judiciaries in the region, especially Barbados and Guyana. The cordiality and trust as well as the receptiveness to any suggestions we bring to the table is heart-warming, and their support in this venture has been outstanding. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that JUSTconnect will have on the development of judicial education. Let us embark on the journey of lifelong learning together.” 

Judicial education, in general, and the deliberation and sharing among Judicial Education Institutes in the region have moved to a higher level that will redound to the benefit of the participating partners and the stakeholders they serve. 

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