AG plans to revitalise justice system

Attorney General John Jeremie has placed legislative reform high on his agenda. He made the disclosure, claiming at the same time that his Ministry was seriously committed to the improvement of the administration of justice.

Jeremie spoke earlier this week at a colloquium on “Restorative Justice,” jointly hosted by the Attorney General; the Ministry of National Security and Rehabilitation; the Faculty of Social Sciences, UWI and the Restorative Justice Action Group. Jeremie stressed that as Attorney General, he was mindful of the fact that the criminal justice system was under review and legal officers of his Ministry were working along with the Criminal Justice Committee appointed by the Chief Justice, and chaired by Justice Mark Mohammed. “We at the Ministry are of the view that restorative justice is a concept that clearly needs to be articulated and understood by all stakeholders involved in the criminal justice system,” said the AG. He also explained that based on the recommendations of the Task Force on Prison Reform transformation, a legal officer from his Ministry is currently involved in reviewing the archaic 1838 prison rules, with a view to updating them, and ensuring compliance with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules.

Jeremie told the audience that discussions such as those taking place at the colloquium on restorative justice would certainly contribute to the vision of achieving developed nation status in Trinidad and Tobago. The keynote speaker at the colloquium was Prof Thomas Russell of the University of Denver College and Fulbright Senior Scholar, University of the West Indies, St Augustine. His paper dealt with “Possibilities for Trinidad and Tobago as far as Restorative Justice is concerned.” He defined restorative justice as a different way of thinking about crime and the response to it by those concerned. Prof Russell took an indepth look at restorative justice to the appreciation of all present at the Cabildo Chambers conference room, where the event was held.