The Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago has consulted judicial officers, legal practitioners and justice-sector stakeholders on ways to improve the administration of family justice and ensure the timely resolution of cases.
The consultation, hosted by the Judicial Education Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (JEITT) on Friday, focused on the practical application of the Family Proceedings Rules 1998 and potential areas for procedural reform.
Discussions centred on challenges affecting the management of family matters, the effectiveness of existing procedures and measures to make court processes fairer and more efficient.
Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh underscored the importance of practical, solutions-oriented discussions aimed at improving service delivery to court users and enhancing court performance.
A central focus of the consultation was the overriding objective of the Rules, which requires courts to deal with family matters justly, with the welfare of children being the first and paramount consideration in proceedings affecting them.
The engagement brought together Justices of Appeal, High Court judges, other judicial officers, members of the Court Administrative Unit and representatives from several justice-sector institutions.
These included the Ministry of Justice, the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Hugh Wooding Law School, the Faculty of Law, the Trinidad and Tobago Family Law Association and other law associations.
Participants shared practical experiences and identified procedural and administrative challenges that could affect the fair and timely handling of family proceedings.
The consultation also provided an opportunity to explore reforms that could strengthen the delivery of family justice while safeguarding the interests of children and other court users.
The Judiciary said the engagement formed part of its ongoing commitment to stakeholder consultation and improving the administration of justice.
The discussions are expected to help identify opportunities to enhance the application of the Rules, strengthen court processes and improve outcomes for families navigating the justice system.
