Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO) 8th Biennial Conference

Hamilton, Bermuda. The recently concluded Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO) 8th Biennial Conference was one of the most memorable in its history. On location in the host country of Bermuda from 21 to 23 November 2024, the Conference was conferred under the theme of “Justice 360: Holistic Approaches to the Administration of Justice”.

Interactive Experience

This Conference was one with a difference, offering participants a genuinely interactive experience. The programme was designed to strengthen participant engagement by learning through doing, spanning two and a half days. From the opening ceremony on the first day, the spirits were high, and all 100 attendees were delighted. Following the welcome by Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and Chairperson of the CAJO, the Hon. Mr Justice Peter Jamadar, special remarks were provided by Bermuda’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, The Hon. Senator Kim Wilkerson, JP; CCJ Judge and Chairperson of the CCJ Academy for Law, the Hon. Mr Justice Winston Anderson; and the Chief Justice of Bermuda, The Hon. Mr Justice Larry Mussenden. Artistic presentations introduced conference participants to rousing Bermudian cultural performances that left many persons on their feet in awe.

Heads of Caribbean Judiciaries

Several Heads of Caribbean judiciaries were in attendance and actively participated in the Conference’s sessions. These were: CCJ President, the Hon. Mr Justice Adrian Saunders; Chief Justice of The Bahamas, Sir Ian Winder; Chief Justice of Barbados, the Hon. Mr Justice Leslie Haynes; Chief Justice of Bermuda, the Hon. Mr Justice Larry Mussenden; Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana (Ag), the Hon. Mme Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; Chief Justice of Guyana (Ag), the Hon. Mme Justice Roxane George; Chief Justice of Jamaica, the Hon. Mr Justice Bryan Sykes; and Vice President of the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Mrs Maroeska Scholte.

Feature Presentation

The feature presentation on the first day by the CCJ President, the Hon. Mr Justice Adrian Saunders spotlighted “Celebrating Caribbean Jurisprudence: Intersections between Law, Politics, and Society”, reinforcing the need for judiciaries to incorporate outcome thinking (measurable goals) alongside process thinking (the detailed steps). President Saunders encouraged the judicial officers to share his dream of “control over our constitutions to pass exclusively into the hands of Caribbean people, thereby marking the final step in our journey towards fully independent status”, particularly for those “several important disputes where the law is uncertain or in need of review by an apex court, are left unresolved or insufficiently or inadequately addressed.”

Plenary and Breakout Sessions

Plenary and breakout sessions were conducted on artificial intelligence in Caribbean judiciaries, management of high-profile matters, creating judiciaries in integrity, breaking cycles of violence against women and girls, conflict management within the judiciary, the management of court resources, and many other issues pertinent to courts in the region. By engaging different teaching-learning models, such as small group work, panel discussions, lecturettes, and question-and-answer segments, the programme offered participants a variety of session topics and ways to interact with the subject material.

Wellness Theme

Fully embracing the wellness theme, this year’s programme included a dedicated segment offering participants practical tools to aid their wellbeing. Also, the use of music and performance not only stimulated the senses but also served as creative outlets for consolidating learning.

Notable Consultants

Notable consultants sharing their expertise at the Conference were Mr L. Anthony Watkins, Principal Consultant and CEO of Odessey Consulting Ltd and Dr Elizabeth Macharia, Legal Adviser, Commonwealth Secretariat. They facilitated sessions on judicial conflict management and court resource management respectively.

Sounds of Justice Session

In keeping with the CAJO’s Conference theme of Justice 360, the “Sounds of Justice” session was an enthusiastic addition to the Conference this year and featured dramatic participant presentations from the judiciaries of The Bahamas, Bermuda, Guyana, Jamaica, and the CCJ.

CAJO Management Committee

At the Association’s Third Annual General Meeting, a new CAJO Management Committee was elected to office and Justice Jamadar was re-elected as CAJO Chair as was Chief Justice Roxane George of Guyana as Vice Chair.

Conclusion

The CAJO 8th Biennial Conference was a resounding success, providing a platform for judicial officers to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. The Conference’s theme of “Justice 360: Holistic Approaches to the Administration of Justice” was well-received, and the programme offered a unique blend of interactive sessions, plenary presentations, and breakout discussions.

FAQs

Q: What was the theme of the CAJO 8th Biennial Conference?
A: The theme was “Justice 360: Holistic Approaches to the Administration of Justice”.

Q: How many participants attended the Conference?
A: There were 100 attendees from the Caribbean region.

Q: Who were some of the notable speakers at the Conference?
A: Notable speakers included the Hon. Mr Justice Peter Jamadar, Hon. Senator Kim Wilkerson, JP, and Hon. Mr Justice Winston Anderson, among others.

Q: What was the focus of the Conference?
A: The Conference focused on issues such as artificial intelligence in Caribbean judiciaries, management of high-profile matters, creating judiciaries in integrity, breaking cycles of violence against women and girls, conflict management within the judiciary, and the management of court resources.

Q: What was the outcome of the Conference?
A: The Conference resulted in the adoption of a Statement on the Wellbeing of Judicial Officers and Judiciary Staff, as well as 10 specific Resolutions deemed essential at this time.

Q: When and where will the next CAJO Biennial Conference be held?
A: The next CAJO Biennial Conference is scheduled to be held in 2026 in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.