Over 25 attorneys-of-law from Grenada travelled to Miami in the United States to attend the 17th Regional Law Conference that was held outside of the English-speaking Caribbean for the first time.
Heading the delegation was President of the Grenada Bar Association (GBA) Derek Sylvester and two of the island’s present King’s Counsel, Darshan Ramdhani and Ruggles Ferguson.
The October 13-14 conference was addressed by several legal luminaries including Chief Justice Dame Janice Pereria.
Following is the address of the Chief Justice:-
Dear Law Colleagues
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 17th Regional Law Conference, the signature event of the OECS Bar Association. The Law Conference has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 2004, and it is now an established feature in our annual calendar.
It is customary that the Law Conference is hosted in one of the beautiful Member States and Territories. However, given the challenges being experienced with regional travel, this was not possible. Nevertheless, I am delighted that we can be together again in person for the 17th Edition of the Law Conference.
Every year the Law Conference affords an opportunity for members of the Legal Profession, the Judiciary and other participants to receive continuing legal education, network exchange information and foster camaraderie.
The Judicial Education Institute (JEI) the educational arm of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) continues to partner with the OECS Bar Association, to ensure that areas of interest which may redound in professional strengthening of practitioners and officers of the Court alike, are made a part of the Law Conference.
This year is no exception, with the JEI/OECS Bar hosting a Joint Symposium. The JEI/OECS shares an invaluable partnership with the OECS Bar Association, and it is my hope that this relationship will only strengthen in the future. The novel Coronavirus catapulted us into uncharted waters. And, together we had to do our utmost to navigate the crisis, with the hope that in the end we would emerge more resilient.
However, navigating the crisis presented us with numerous challenges both on a personal and organisational level. It is therefore fitting and timely that the programme will address some of the issues emerging from the pandemic.
The increase in remote working and use of virtual platforms created greater exposure to cyber risk and attacks on our institutions. For the Judiciary and the Legal Profession, this new normal further taxed what is already a demanding environment, with significant impact on one’s mental health, lifestyle and wellbeing.
The well-being of judicial officers and legal practitioners is critical to the effective administration of justice. Therefore, I applaud the OECS Bar Association in its efforts to increase awareness. I encourage participants to take full advantage of the wellness component, to acquire various tools and techniques to maintain their well-being.
The expertly curated programme covers a range of areas of mutual interest. I anticipate the exchanges will be both insightful and enlightening.
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is pleased to be part of this year’s Conference, to share with you our advancement in respect of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
The ECSC ushered in a new era in alternative dispute resolution with the introduction of Judicial Settlement Conferences (JSCs) in the Commonwealth of Dominica. With the coming into force of the Civil Procedure Rules (Revised Edition) 2023 (CPR), JSCs are now provided for and governed by Part of the Court’s processes across all Member States and Territories comprising the Court’s jurisdiction. It is intended to complement the provisions for mediation as an ADR mechanism for promoting the early disposition of cases.
Finally, I take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to the OECS Bar Association for its continued support and partnership over the years. The Bench and Bar continue to foster a great relationship in the administration of justice on the OECS.
I commend Ms. Jean Dyer, OECS Bar president/Law Conference Coordinator, the Executive and members of the OECS Bar Association and the Planning Committee for their hard work and dedication in organising yet another undoubtedly successful Law Conference.