BVI pioneers first-ever e-litigation criminal module

The BVI has become the first jurisdiction to implement the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s (ECSC) e-litigation criminal module.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s (ECSC) e-litigation portal provides a platform for submitting and processing court documents electronically. The addition of the criminal module allows for the expansion of the portal to include the electronic management of criminal cases and documents.

Speaking at the launch ceremony at the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said, “The executive branch remains a good partner in this nation-building exercise. We look forward to providing support to ensure that the administration of justice here in the Virgin Islands is one that we can all be proud of.”

Chief Justice Dame Janice Pereira reflected on the initial rollout of the e-litigation portal for civil matters, noting that the expansion of the portal to criminal matters was always intended.

The Chief Justice said, “We knew we had to get to other parts of the portal, and we continued that work along with our team and the developers in ensuring that the product that we bring is fit for purpose. We are now implementing the very last module within that e-litigation portal system, which is to introduce the criminal module and we are happy to start again in the territory of the Virgin Islands.”

Dame Pereira explained that the new module will benefit the criminal division of the court by introducing electronic filing for documents such as indictments and complaints.

She explained that the new development will help to fulfil the goal of providing access to justice to everyone at any time through the e-litigation portal.

Before the criminal module was officially launched, multiple training sessions took place at the Department of Information Technology to prepare stakeholders for navigating the platform after it was implemented.