Appeals Court president backs new Judiciary Strategic Business Plan
Published:Monday | April 15, 2024 | 12:10 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
Citing the positive outcomes of the Judiciary Strategic Business Plan (JSBP) for 2019-2023, Justice Patrick Brooks, president of the Court of Appeal, is throwing his support behind the new JSBP for 2024-2028, which was launched recently.
Brooks said even though the previous plan was somewhat hijacked by the COVID-19 pandemic, it served the judiciary well as it yielded greater efficiency in the justice system.
“The plan forced us in the judicial system to become more adept at using technology in serving the justice system in ways we never thought possible; or at least never thought to be readily accessible,” he told the audience during the launch, which took place last Wednesday at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew.
“I believe the accomplishments deriving from the previous strategic plan impressed our stakeholders; the strategic plan embraced those technological advances and has now paved the way for the new plan for 2024 to 2028.”
Brooks said the new plan has advantages over its predecessor, as the former plan opened eyes to the possibilities available to the judiciary and, with teamwork, dedication and technology, more can be achieved than initially thought possible.
“We at the Court of Appeal therefore, unreservedly, adopt the judiciary’s new vision and stand committed to playing our part in ensuring the objective of the new plan will be met,” he said.
“This new business plan carries several treats for the stakeholders with the core values of fairness, accountability, impartiality, integrity, independence, innovation, and respect (FAIR), and commitment, communication, courtesy, accessibility, responsiveness, and empathy (CARE). There is something in it for everyone.”
He added that the business plan was also impressive as it involves a robust enterprise risk-management system to ensure its sustainability and mitigate against numerous threats.
“The Court of Appeal is looking forward to operating with this new business plan. The court has benefited from the previous plan; under that plan, with the guidance of justices David Fraser and Nicole Foster Pusey, the Court of Appeal advanced by leaps and bounds,” Brooks said.