U.N.D.P. Donates Equipment to Belize Courts

Today, the United Nations Development Program donated a trove of information and communication technology equipment to the Belize’s judiciary to improve the access to justice by addressing the challenges leading to inadequate data and the back log in cases. The donation, valued at one hundred and twenty thousand dollars, was made possible through the Spotlight Initiative which is a global programme funded by the European Union to tackle violence against women and girls in a number of ways.  News Five was invited to the handing over today.

Michelle Arana

Michelle Arana, Chief Justice

“The new wiring of the network will allow for more than a thousand mega byte of data to be shared instead of the currently existing one hundred megabytes; this will allow for simultaneous recording in multiple courts, as well as virtual court rooms across the country and quick digitization of case files. Secondly, the network’s backbone has been upgraded from a copper base to a fiber optic option and this will allow for growth and will meet the increased demand for online services. Thirdly, this new equipment such as the television provided will allow for complainants and witnesses to be present in court virtually and this feature will be desirable in cases where witnesses may be fearful of being in court physically and where children may be terrified of close physical proximity with accused persons. This digital equipment will also be used to present digital evidence in criminal matters brought by the director of public prosecutions (DPP) which is prepared for court by the forensic unit of the police department. Fourthly, wireless devices such as wireless access points and laptop will be updated and replaced and made available for use at the courts. This will aid citizens who are lacking the requisite technology to access the services of the courts. Fifthly, the current court room at the Belize Central Prison will be updated with wireless access points and laptops to connect remotely to the court and this will reduce the need to have prisoners physically transported to and from the prison for preliminary court hearings. Six, new desktops will replace the out dated equipment for the general registry and the case management unit which will then be able to work seamlessly with scanners, network printers and the new web based software. And seventhly, the enhancement of the digital case files will ensure that magistrates will ensure that magistrates will have immediate access to digital case files. Our Supreme Court IT experts point out that the current network is over ten years old and in a state of great disrepair. This project is therefore a very timely and beneficial one.”