The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in collaboration with the Criminal Justice Stakeholder’s Group (CJSG) has announced the launch of the TCI Victims and Witnesses Support Unit on Friday, June 24th, 11:00 a.m. at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex, Providenciales.
Under the leadership of the Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Mabel Agyemang, the Criminal Justice Stakeholders’ Group has demonstratively committed to implement a criminal justice delivery agenda that would do more to speed up the wheel of justice, protect and care for victims of crimes and their families, respect and safeguard the rights of offenders, and above all, secure public confidence in the administration of criminal justice in TCI.
In this regard, significant strides continue to be made and one of the CJSG achievements is the successful collaborative effort that gave rise to the establishment of the Victims and Witnesses Support Unit to be hosted in the ODPP.
The June 24th launch, and by extension the Unit, will serve to:
(i) Highlight why and how the interest and victims should be put first in, or at the heart, of our criminal justice delivery;
(ii) Do all that is possible to regain the trust and confidence of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system; and
(iii) Educate and sensitize the public of our civic, moral and legal obligation not only to report crime but also to assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice by testifying.
Other members of the Criminal Justice Stakeholders’ Group are:
Hon. Justice Shiraz Aziz; The Hon. Attorney General; Director of Public Prosecutions; the Commissioner of Police; Director of the Department of Social Development; Superintendent of The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation;The Hon. Chief Magistrate; Registrar of the Supreme Court; a representative of the TCI Bar and the Secretary.
