New court pay system coming

The days of mothers lining up outside the law court for child support payments are coming to an end in Barbados, according to Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham.

That’s all due to a Courtpay Programme which is part of a court case management system, introduced in the Magistrates’ Court back in June by International Narcotics and Legal (INL) through the National Centre for State Courts (NCSC), in partnership with the Barbados Judiciary.

“Courtpay will allow us to finally have a more real-time handle of the court’s finances. The days of mothers lining up outside of a court for an elusive maintenance payment are coming to an end.

“Courtpay will allow them to go to their ATM after receiving a text message or to use a prepaid card to collect their payments. It will also be a direct benefit to court officers in monitoring and enforcing the payment of fines,” Sir Patterson announced during the virtual opening of the legal year 2021-2022 of the Barbados Supreme Court on Monday.

The Chief Justice explained that the Magistrates’ Court has traditionally been the forgotten relative but this new initiative – the court case management system – will see the computerizing of the processes in the Magistrates’ Court providing real-time data and linking all of the courts across a ready and active platform.

He explained that two programmers have already been hired by NCSC to build the programmes for the judiciary and a number of committees have already been formed to redesign and advise on all processes undertaken in the Magistrates’ Court.

The NCSC, he said, has also agreed to provide “some necessary hardware” and that equipment will be distributed through the pilot sites at Oistins, Holetown and Cane Garden Magistrates’ Courts.

“One of the benefits of the new system for the Magistrates’ Court will be the introduction of CourtPay,” he added as he extended thanks to the judiciary of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago for “gifting” Barbados with the CourtPay programme.

“Trinidad and Tobago is one of our consortium partners in NCSC initiatives,” he explained. “And we thank the United States Embassy for its donation of three heavy-duty scanners which will be deployed in the course of the month.”

He also made it clear that there ought to be low tolerance for delays and any obstacles that impede the speedy resolution of matters when it comes to family law.

“Issues of access, custody, guardianship, support and distribution of matrimonial assets must be resolved expeditiously and efficiently. The consequences for litigants can entail financial ruin, acute emotional trauma for children and parties and anger with potentially troubling consequences,” the Chief Justice said.

“For the last 20 years, the judiciary and the Bar have discussed and pressed for the need for a United Family Court – a dedicated court with in-house ancillary social services, staffed by judges chosen by temperament and training to deal with these most sensitive, but often extremely contentious matters. Such a court will have both a magisterial and high court jurisdiction and it will also hear domestic violence and juvenile justice matters.

“It will be a . . . change in our adjudication of family law matters. The underlying philosophy departs radically from what practitioners, litigants and judges were previously familiar. The programme for specialized training of the judges in the Family Division is next on the agenda.”

He added that UNICEF has been a generous and sensitive partner in this initiative while a location within the Supreme Court complex has been earmarked and the draft legislation has been delivered to the Family Law Council and discussions with the Office of the Attorney-General have begun.

Sir Patterson said it is expected that there will be new support personnel including Masters and a new statutory regime.

“There will be extensive training and retraining for all participants. We will usher in a more modern and enlightened approach to the resolution of family disputes,” the Chief Justice promised. (FW)