By Mama A Touray
The Gambia’s Judiciary is in talks with the United States Bar Association for training programmes on case management, automation of court processes, review and revision of rules of court and alternative dispute resolution.
Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow revealed this while speaking at the opening of the 2022 Legal Year held in Banjul on Sunday.
“Already the judiciary is in active discussions with the American Bar Association on the implementation of some of the components such as training, case management, automation of court processes, review and revision of rules of court and alternative dispute resolution,” he told legal men and women.
He also announced that “the government of the United States of America has decided to provide the sum of $4.35 million in support of justice sector projects in The Gambia, some of which fall under the judiciary strategic plan.”
“The objective is strengthening the independence and autonomy of the judiciary, upgrading and expanding its infrastructure, improving the efficiency of court processes and human resources, harnessing technology to that effect and improving access to justice have been and will continue to be the guiding principles for the development of the judiciary,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said judiciary has been working with other government institutions and departments on its implementations since it was launched by President Adama Barrow five years ago.
“Last year the judiciary in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Ministry of Justice, organized a donors conference from 3rd to 4th November 2021, to present the plan to potential donors and to seek their support for its implementation,” he said.
According to him, the conference was well attended with a number of states and international organizations expressing interest in some components of the plan, adding that the Ministry of Finance and Economic affairs and the judiciary is now following up with such parties on their expressions of Interest.
“A delegation of the judiciary and the Ministry of Finance and Economic affairs will shortly embark on a follow up mission for further consultations with each our development partners who may be in a position to contribute to the implementation of the plan,” he disclosed.
