Us And Uk Governments Committed To Supporting Reforms In The Criminal Justice System In The Eastern Caribbean
The governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom continue to collaborate with Eastern Caribbean justice sector stakeholders to bolster the region’s criminal justice systems.
Last week, the Sentencing Guidelines Advisory Committee (SGAC) of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) met in Saint Lucia to advance their work on new and revised Sentencing Guidelines.
Since the introduction of the first set of Guidelines in 2019, the ECSC Sentencing Guidelines Project has continually evolved, and now consists of 22 Guidelines across five major offence categories in nine countries.
These Guidelines provide guidance on sentencing approaches used by judges and magistrates for offences such as sexual crimes, corruption, money laundering, and drug and firearm offences.
Supported by the US-UK Criminal Justice Reform Project and the UK-funded Serious Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Program (SOCAP), the March 4-5 meeting aimed to enhance the effectiveness of key institutions in the criminal justice sector.
The US-UK Criminal Justice Project has been instrumental in supporting the ECSC throughout the development, publication, and sensitization activities related to these Guidelines.
Sirah Abraham, Criminal Justice Advisor for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, praised the ECSC’s commitment to the Sentencing Guidelines Project.
She highlighted the Guidelines’ role in streamlining sentencing processes and increasing understanding among victims, witnesses, offenders, and the public, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and bolstering public trust in the judiciary.
Sirah Abraham remarked, “I am heartened to see the dedication of The Honourable Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, The Honourable Dame Janice Pereira, and the Sentencing Guidelines Advisory Committee in developing and keeping under review the ECSC Sentencing Guidelines over these past few years.
The Guidelines have gone a long way in streamlining the approach taken by judges and magistrates to sentencing offenders, which is a critical aspect of their work.
Further, the consultative, and evidence-based approach taken to the development and revision of the Sentencing Guidelines has made the sentencing process in relation to serious offences much more readily understood by victims/survivors, witnesses, offenders and the public.”
The SGAC was established by the Chief Justice of the ECSC, The Honourable Dame Janice M. Pereira, who also sits on the Committee and is chaired by ECSC Judges, The Honourable Justices Trevor Ward and Iain Morley.
The Committee draws on multi-country and multi-stakeholder expertise across the criminal justice system including the courts, the social sciences, prosecuting authorities, lawyers, social welfare, and the public with members hailing from the Eastern Caribbean, the wider Caribbean region, and the United Kingdom.
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I’m pleased of the interest shown to reform of our justice system by the US and UK my problem is that is in the Magistrate Court and the Caribbean Appeal Court justice delayed is justice denied Let us look at the Case in Domonica Maoul Choski an Indian Businessman vs the government of Domonica the point is that matter took years before the government with drawern in disgrace the allegation were that he was kidnapped from Antigua and brought to Domonica now looking at Antigua and Barbuda the facts of this case is quite clear The victim Maoul Choski is still awaiting justice to date the Court fail to prosecute the matter Human Rights watch intervine and wrote a letter to the Scotland Yard in which investigation commence but probably it is stock some where Human trafficking kidnapping and Torture Please we need justice Maoul Choski
We also would like to see Justice for Choski’s victims that he swindled. If he is innocent why did he run, and why don’t he want to return to face the charges in his home Country’s courts?
Human Rights Watch is risking their credibility by intervening on Choski’s behalf in their attempt to embarrass the UK government.
Nice to have guidelines
If Judges will use them is a different matter
It may depend on each jurisdictions AG
Time will tell
The best solution to stop crime in Antigua is to deport all the illegal Jamaican and Haitians living here. It is time for Antigua to rejoin the UK as an official colony. This independent nation nonsense has led to nowhere. Let’s be a part of the UK again.
We also would like to see Justice for Choski’s victims that he swindled. If he is innocent why did he run, and why don’t he want to return to face the charges in his home Country’s courts?
Human Rights Watch is risking their credibility by intervening on Choski’s behalf in their attempt to embarrass the UK government.
@ Rastaman12
When a person is down and they see no way out all sorts of things cross their mind as they search for alternatives.
The UK don’t want Antigua. Barbudans begged the UK to keep them as a colony. They failed in that regard.
Those who remain colonized as associated states did so by guns.
Read the book about Webster and the others from Anguilla who carried out an arm attacked St. Kitts
We have mismanaged our post colonial times.
That’s why we are in this state where we have to go around the world with hat in hand begging.
Do we have punishments such as community service in our laws. Might be useful, particularly for young offenders to help retrain their minds in the direction of being helpful to others instead of trying to hurt or take from others. Might also give them a sense of purpose and accomplishment to help clean up the environment, help the poor or elderly, help build something in the community etc.
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