Magistrate Emanuel led a team of five experts to Cabinet to address the challenges posed by children in conflict with the law.

An expert from Trinidad was among the speakers, explaining the nature of the project funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The project aims to achieve restorative justice, reduce court case backlogs, lower incarceration rates, and minimize time spent on remand.

The Cabinet was informed that outdated paper-based systems contribute to the slow administration of justice and that court workers need to be trained in new technologies, a process known as “up-skilling”.

The 8-country project in the Anglo-Caribbean has received 500,000 Euros in funding from the European Commission.

The expert also discussed the benefits of judge-only trials in expediting the administration of justice and reducing trial backlogs.

It was emphasized that legislative changes are necessary to adapt to the current situation, as the laws in place were designed for a time when the criminal population was smaller and fewer minors were involved in legal matters.