Canada gives millions to CARICOM justice sector reform project

By Michelle Nurse On May 19, 2015

Regional Project Director Professor Velma Newton (left) and Canadian High Commissioner Richard Hanley at the official launch of the project (Photo via Caribbean360)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Canadian government is providing CAN$19.2 million to help reform the justice sector in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.

Assistance in drafting legislation to further Regional integration and economic growth, more legislative protection of vulnerable groups against discrimination, training of mediators to assist parties in solving disputes to avoid long and expensive court proceedings, and a programme for sensitising ordinary people about their rights under the law are among the benefits promised under the Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) project being funded under an agreement with the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The five-year Regional justice sector reform project is designed to address deficiencies in the justice sector in CARICOM, outside of those that are directly related to the judiciary and the courts.