By Belize Live News Staff: Belize’s senior judicial officials will gather on Monday for a specialized workshop focused on enhancing dispute resolution skills, aiming to expedite trials and alleviate the backlog of civil cases.
Organized by the Senior Courts of Belize Judicial Education Institute, the “Judicial Settlement Conferences” workshop will equip judges, registrars, judicial assistants, and members of the Bar Association of Belize with critical skills for efficient conflict resolution. This event, along with a planned “Criminal Mediation” seminar, aligns with the broader goal of optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial system.
These initiatives resonate with several key objectives, including the Caribbean Court of Justice’s Needham’s Point Declaration, the Senior Courts of Belize’s strategic narrative, and the Criminal Justice Board’s recommendations.
Chief Justice Louise Esther Blenman underscored the role of settlement conferences in facilitating mediation, often led by a designated settlement judge. Justice of Appeal Vasheist Kokaram from Trinidad and Tobago, recognized for his extensive regional expertise, will lead this training.
Further strengthening its commitment to efficiency, the Judicial Education Institute will host a judge-driven criminal mediation training from October 2-6, sponsored by the European Union and the United Nations. Facilitated by experts from the University of the West Indies, this training aims to introduce criminal mediation best practices and equip participants with skills to expedite case resolution.
Chief Justice Blenman emphasized the significance of these initiatives in tackling case backlogs and ensuring that Belize’s judicial stakeholders possess the latest knowledge and tools for timely and effective justice delivery.
