Anguilla, which chased an Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Judge from its shabby courthouse during the island’s 1967 Revolution, but rejoined that High Court later, is now the third jurisdiction where a new and modern e-Litigation system has been implemented.
With no communication systems to speak about in 1967, but now has every social media web outlet at its disposal, Anguilla has joined the rest of the nine jurisdictions where a brand new filing, case management and court system is being implemented. The e-litigation portal will allow the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court to improve the delivery of justice to the citizens of the sub-region, and will significantly reduce costs associated with its operations across all of its jurisdictions.
The system, bearing the theme “Serving you on time and online”, was launched in the Anguilla Circuit on Friday, March 15, at the Anguilla Community College. It is already in operation in St. Lucia and the British Virgin Islands. By the end of 2019 it should be launched in all nine jurisdictions. They are the six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda; the Commonwealth of Dominica; Grenada; St. Kitts-Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and the three British Overseas Territories – Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and Montserrat.
A catch phrase for the system is that “it will provide court users and stakeholders with access to assigned services anytime, anywhere and on any device – including smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktops.”
The e-litigation software, described as “a highly-proven web-based application”, was developed by Crimson Logic Ltd with headquarters in Singapore and a branch office in Trinidad and Tobago.
All the speakers from the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and the Anguilla Circuit, said they were excited about the system. Among other things, it would prevent them from moving around with bundles of case files and provide them with opportunities to access court matters even when they are relaxing or travelling away from their areas of work.
The programme for the E-litigation Launch was as follows: Master of Ceremonies and Opening Prayer: Mr. Dwayman Brissette, Information Services, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; Welcome: Ms. Vernette Richardson, Registrar, Anguilla High Court Circuit; Opening Remarks: Justice Shawn Innocent, Acting High Court Judge; Remarks: Mrs. Michelle John-Theobalds, Chief Registrar, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; Presentation and demonstration the Litigation Portal: Miss Alana Ali and Mr. Jose Cobrai, Assistant Project Manager and Project Manager, Crimson Logic respectively; Testimonial: Ms. Jean Dyer, President of the Anguilla Bar Association, and J. M. Dyer & Company, a convert of the system; Launch of the E-Litigation Portal: Mrs. Michelle John-Theobalds, Chief Registrar, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; and the Vote of Thanks: Mrs. Parlona Reese, Judicial Executive Assistant, Anguilla High Court.
The event was well-attended by personnel of the Judicial Department, members of the Anguilla Bar Association and visiting officials of the St. Lucia-based Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
