JUST project gets $360 million in Estimates of Expenditure
April 19, 2011The Full Story
KINGSTON — The Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation (JUST) project has received an allocation of $360 million in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.
The objective of the project is to provide support to the Ministry of Justice on matters related to the planning and implementation of justice reform measures.
For the 2011 to 2012 period, it is expected that staff will be hired and equipment procured for the Justice Reform Implementation Unit; annual training and development activities will be conducted for Ministry of Justice staff involved in justice reform planning and implementation; and resources for virtual library procured.
It is also envisaged that quarterly consultations will be held to obtain stakeholder feedback and input on justice reform. Library and documentary resources are to be procured as well, to support the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and a website developed for the Office.
Other anticipated physical targets for the period are: preparation of drafting instructions to establish the Court Management Services in law and amending of existing legislation and regulations governing court administration protocols; holding of consultations on a model for a law reform commission; hiring of a technical advisor/programme co-ordinator; and developing legal research legislation to meet national requirements and international human rights and other obligations.
The project, which began on April, 2009, is scheduled to end in December, 2013. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Justice through funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
In the meantime, a Caribbean Prosecutors’ Conference is to be held in March with an allocation of $3.8 million in the Estimates.
The Caribbean Prosecutors’ Conference aims to provide a forum where prosecutors can discuss issues and challenges in prosecution, professionalism and prosecutorial policies. Specific areas such as cybercrime, money-laundering, transnational crime and international cooperation will be addressed.
It is expected that 39 delegates (local and overseas) will participate in the conference, while 55 are expected to participate in the opening reception and formal dinner.
CONTACT: ALECIA SMITH, JIS Reporter