AMBASSADOR Jernej Videtic, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, and Mr. Philippe Coessens, Minister Counsellor and Head of Political, earlier this week paid a courtesy call on Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams, SC at his office.

The visit concerned the “Support to the Effectiveness of Criminal Justice Systems in the Caribbean” project, the AG chambers said in a release. The project’s aim is to modernise and strengthen CARIFORUM participating countries’ court systems, processes, and services; and to train and equip judicial officers and court staff with the skills and competencies necessary to deliver justice in a fair, transparent, efficient and timely manner.

According to the release, the project which will be finalised by the European Development Fund and target the CARIFORUM Region will commence in early 2019.

Some of the main activities of the project will be technical assistance, procurement of equipment, training, national and regional coordination, witness protection, victim support, rehabilitation services aimed at offenders and public outreach. Williams during the meeting gave his full support for the project and the activities to be undertaken. He was further pleased that activities such as witness protection programme, procuring of equipment for the court including audio and video digital recording and digital voice transcription technology, video-conferencing equipment, internet court portals and rehabilitation initiatives/ workshops in prisons were part of the activities of the project.

The attorney general also highlighted the need for training of prosecutors, law enforcement and the judiciary in the areas of cybercrime and financial crimes. Additionally, discussed at the meeting was the abolition of the death penalty and an upcoming seminar on the subject facilitated by the EU and the UK. Also in attendance at the meeting were Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Mr. Charles Fung-a-Fatt, and his deputy, Ms. Joann Bond.