Courts to Suspend Proceedings Next Week for Regional Justice Training Program

The Judiciary has announced a temporary suspension of proceedings in several courts next week to facilitate a regional training program aimed at strengthening criminal investigations and prosecutions.  According to a notice issued by the Senior Courts of Belize, the EU/UNDP PACE Justice Project will host a Regional Joint Director of Public Prosecutions, Police Investigation and Case File Preparation Training for police investigators, prosecutors, and Crown Counsel on Monday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 23.

To accommodate the training, Chief Justice Louise Esther Blenman has declared both days as dies non for the Court of Appeal, the Criminal Division of the High Court of Belize, and the Magistrates’ Courts. As a result, proceedings in those courts will be suspended during the two-day period.  The Judiciary says the temporary closure is intended to allow justice sector personnel to participate fully in the regional training initiative, which focuses on improving investigative practices and the preparation of criminal case files.  Despite the suspension of regular court activities, urgent applications will continue to be heard during the period.  The Judiciary has advised that normal operations will resume on Wednesday, June 24 at 8:00 a.m. The General Registry, however, will remain open throughout the closure.