Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Cayman Islands this very distinguished panel of jurists representing jurisdictions from across the length and breadth of our Caribbean Region and Bermuda. I must give apologies for his Excellency the Governor Mr Martyn Roper who is in the UK on a well-deserved vacation. He has asked me to wish you a most successful conference.

I was delighted to learn that among the heads of judiciaries represented this morning is the newly designated Chief Justice of the Bahamas, the Hon. Justice Ian *Winder. (wind)  Congratulations, Justice Winder.  I wish you every success as you embark on this important new voyage. Prioritizing attendance only a few days before your swearing-in clearly signals the importance with which you hold this Conference. 

This occasion also offers me an opportunity to reflect on the value of these meetings. 

Regional judges, magistrates, registrars, and executive court administrators have already benefitted from the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (known as CAJO), an outcome of the 2007 Conference, also held in Cayman. Large contingents from Cayman attended the 2011 and 2019 CAJO meetings in Nassau and Belize, respectively, and I am advised that a Cayman contingent will be attending the CAJO meeting in October. 

While reflecting on these important influences, as Acting Governor I take a moment to acknowledge the regard with which we in the Cayman Islands hold the administration of justice.

I am inspired by the local, regional, and worldwide respect that the large local and regional representation gathered here this morning commands for their independence, courage, and competence.  

This actual and perceived reputation is critical, as upon it hinges the very security and prosperity of our peoples. 

Those distinctions and universal truths aside, however, the hosting of this conference in Cayman has other special significance—prime among which is the meeting’s focus on the application of information technology to the administration of justice. 

The use of technology in this sphere and others has become imperative in the unprecedented pandemic that cannot yet be said to be reliably relaxing its grip on our territories and around the rest of the world.

As evidence of the receptivity of our judicial captains here in Cayman, external consultants reported earlier this year that the Criminal divisions of both the Summary and the Grand courts navigated into harbour at the end of 2021 with virtually no backlogs. 

The sails boosting that successful journey employed rapid adaptation to the new era of remote hearings, and have now been expanded in all divisions of the court. Our Chief Justice tells me that remote hearings are now seen as reliable and ready alternatives to in-person hearings when circumstances necessitate. 

This resilience and responsiveness of our judiciary to the needs of our local and international court users are most heartening. Indeed, it was critical to Cayman’s business continuity in the international finance sector of our economy.

Sir Anthony has given me the heads up that the necessary introduction of the Cayman court’s e-filing and e-payments platforms that began in 2021 in the Financial Services and General Civil divisions is now being completed in all divisions. Other transformative applications leading to the courts ultimately becoming a paperless and fully automated environment are to follow in 2023.

I take this opportunity to thank publicly and formally our hard-driving and inspiring Chief Justice. His leadership over the past 29 years as a judge, 24-plus as Chief Justice, has won him the respect and support of his colleagues, the administration, and the people of the Cayman Islands. As a young law enforcement officer I had the distinct pleasure of working with the Chief Justice when he was Crown Counsel. I am one of many Caymanians who have been inspired by his passion for justice, his strong work ethic and his progressive leadership. 

We are very proud that he has joined a very select trio of Caymanians to have been knighted by Queen Elizabeth. 

I congratulate and wish him well as he embarks on a new phase of his life.     

Finally, I extend a warm welcome to the spouses of the visiting judiciary here today. Your behind-the-scenes’ role and many sacrifices, many times unrecognised, contribute much to the well-being of the judicial administration in your respective territories.  I hope that you will enjoy your time here. 

And I wish the eleven heads of judiciaries, representing the expanse of the Caribbean region, another ground-breaking, gratifying, and unifying experience at this conference.