Justice Ministry launches defence training programme to tackle court backlogs

The Ministry of Justice has launched a three-day Intensive Defence Optimisation Training and Train the Trainer Programme aimed at strengthening advocacy, trial readiness and judicial efficiency within Trinidad and Tobago’s justice system.

The programme, which began today at the Radisson Hotel, Port of Spain, forms part of a wider effort to address capacity gaps among defence counsel and prosecutors, while improving the movement of cases through the courts.

The initiative is being delivered under the PACE Justice Project — the Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice — and was proposed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the European Union. It is being spearheaded by the Public Defender’s Department (PDD) within the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority (LAAA) of the Ministry of Justice.

Minister of Justice and Minister in the Office of the Attorney General Devesh Maharaj said the programme was part of the Government’s commitment to creating a more efficient and responsive justice sector.

He said high crime rates and the volume of criminal charges had placed significant pressure on the justice system, with limited capacity among defence and prosecution teams affecting the pace at which matters progress through the courts.

“With crime rates and charges remaining high, limited capacity among both the defence and the prosecution, it has significantly affected the number of cases moving through our courts,” Maharaj said.

“This programme addresses strategic capacity building, ensuring that our legal practitioners are equipped to manage the load, all while advancing our core mandate of access to justice and restorative justice.”

Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago Ronnie Boodoosingh said collaboration among justice sector stakeholders was critical to improving the efficiency of the system, while ensuring that the people affected by it remained at the centre of decision-making.

“What we do after this dialogue is far more important,” he said.

“Through the Criminal Justice Board, we’ve been meeting monthly, we now have a list of every prisoner in custody of the state, we are working to ensure that every person in state custody is seen as a human being rather than a statistic, and our work is focused on ensuring that the vulnerable can exit the system efficiently.”

Boodoosingh added that a more effective justice system benefited the entire society.

“We all benefit from a more efficient, timely, and fair justice system,” he said.

EU Ambassador Cécile Tassin reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting justice reform across the region, noting that an effective justice system depends not only on legislation, but also on the continued professional development of those responsible for administering justice.

The Ministry said the training forms part of ongoing reforms designed to reduce case backlogs, improve access to legal services and strengthen confidence in the justice system.

Through initiatives such as the Intensive Defence Optimisation Training Programme, officials said the focus remains on building a justice sector that is more equitable, accessible and responsive to the needs of all citizens, particularly vulnerable groups.