JAMAICA CMJA CONFERENCE ENDS

From FAUSTINE KAPAMA-Judiciary, Kingston Jamaica

The Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges Association (CMJA) Annual Conference, which was being held here, bringing together Judges and Magistrates from Commonwealth countries to discuss various judicial issues, has been concluded today September 23, 2026.

The President of the CMJA, Justice Richard Williams, thanked the Chief Justices, Judges and other members of the Association for their support and ensuring the Conference is successful.

He also thanked the Chief Justice of Jamaica for his tireless efforts to ensure everything was going on well. He further thanked hotel staff, security as well as Organizing Committee. Each member of the Committee was awarded a certificate for recognizing their contribution.

“I want to thank every one for the support of the Association, your attendance and participation was very crucial. It was a long journey and I heard some travelled for three days. I thank you for your dedication to the association,” he said.

The next CMJA Annual Conference will be held at Papua New Guinea, an island country that lies in the south-western Pacific. It includes the eastern half of New Guinea and many small offshore islands.

Its neighbours include Indonesia to the west, Australia to the south and Solomon Islands to the south-east. It is mainly mountainous but has low-lying plains in southern New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea has several active volcanoes. Its capital is Port Moresby. The country's 462,840 km2 includes a large mainland and hundreds of islands.

The Conference was organized with theme titled; ‘Sustainable Justice For Today, For Tomorrow, For All.’ Various judicial issues were discussed within the broader context of the administration of justice.

Among topics discussed includes Improving performance and enhancing accountability; Open Justice versus Privacy in the Courts; Is Justice Dysfunctional, on its knees with chronic underfunding and Judicial Bullying and Harassment: Could it happen to you.

Others are Understanding and dealing with GBV; Current tensions between Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law; Judicial Well-Being: mental health and physical health and Writing Judgment and not novels.”

The participants to the Conference also sat in specialized groups to discuss different issues, including Challenges to Arbitral Awards; Coroners and Pirates: Bodies, Wrecks and Treasures; The Lay Magistracy: Surviving 800 years of Change; Conflicting Rights of the Child and the Parents; Military Justice-What next and Admiralty: Crooked Captains, Escaping Ships.

There were breakout discussion groups to discuss various topics, notably “ Are you on a daily diet of vulnerable witnesses or awkward litigants and Protecting Ourselves from online and Physical Threats.”

The Conference was officiated by Jamaican Prime Minister, Hon. Andre Michael Holness, who expressed commitment of rule of law and effective judiciaries, insisting that the rule of law is fundamental to the functioning of free and democratic society.

He told the Conference that the rule of law protects rights and liberties of every citizen and establishes framework within which disputes are resolved peacefully.

“Rule of law provides businesses and investors the confidence that agreements will be respected and property rights protected and critically, it ensures that no person or institution stands above the law,” the Prime Minister said.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who noted that the delegates were meeting at a consequential time for the administration of justice.

He pointed out that the courts over which they preside today bear little resemblance, in some respects, to those of a generation ago, due to technology altering the way that justice is administered.

The Governor General also noted that gatherings such as the CMJA Conference are important in providing a space in which judicial officers may learn from one another, confront common challenges and strengthen the principles upon which the administration of justice depends.

He said that while the respective legal systems may differ in scale and circumstance, they are connected by a profound responsibility to preserve public confidence in justice and to ensure that the institutions of justice are strengthened.

Nine Judges and 15 other judicial officers from the Judiciary of Tanzania participated in the 2026 CMJA, with Principal Judge of the High Court of Tanzania, Hon. Dr.  Mustapher Mohamed Siyani, leading the delegation from the Judiciary Heaquaters.

On the other hand, President of the Tanzania Magistrate and Judges Association (TMJA), who is also Deputy Registrar of the High Court of Tanzania, Hon. Elimo Massawe, lead TMJA leaders and members from the Judiciary of Tanzania.

The delegation included three Justices of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Latifa Mansoor, who is also TMJA Vice-President, Hon. Dr. Yose Mlyambina and Hon. Yohana Masara, who also doubles as Principal Judge of the East African Court of Justice.

Others were five Judges of the High Court, Hon. Dr. Adam Mambi, Hon. Butamo Phillip, Hon. Sharmillah Sarwatt, Hon. Dr. Angelo Rumisha and Hon. Aisha Sinda.             

Also included the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary of Tanzania, Hon. Eva Nkya, Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Hon. George Hebert, Court of Appeal Administrator Victor Kategere and Senior Deputy Registrar, Hon. Sundi Fimbo.

In the same boat are Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice and Deputy Registrar, Hon. Venance Mlingi, Personal Assistant to the Principal Judge and Deputy Registrar, Hon. Aidan Mwilapwa, Personal Assistant to the Chief Registrar and Deputy Registrar, Hon. Dr. Jovin Bishanga and two other Deputy Registrars, Hon. Franco Kiswaga and Hon. Kifungu Mrisho.

Other officials were Secretary General of the TMJA, who is Senior Resident Magistrates, James Mniko, TMJA Deputy Secretary General and Senior Resident Magistrate, Hon. Tedy Mlimba, TMJA Treasurer and Senior Resident Magistrate, Hon. Devotha Kasebele and Publicity Secretary of TMJA and Resident Magistrate, Hon. Fratern Temba.

The rest were Principal In the same boat are Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice and Deputy Registrar, Hon. Venance Mlingi, Personal Assistant to the Principal Judge and Deputy Registrar, Hon. Aidan Mwilapwa, Personal Assistant to the Chief Registrar and Deputy Registrar, Hon. Dr. Jovin Bishanga and two other Deputy Registrars, Hon. Franco Kiswaga and Hon. Kifungu Mrisho.

 Resident Magistrates, Hon. Wilberforce Luhwago, Hon. Julieth Musiza and Hon. Adinani Kingazi and Resident Magistrate, Hon. Hassani Chuka. Accompanying the delegation is Protocol Officer Fadhili Mgutta.

The President of the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges Association, Justice Richard Williams, speaking at the closing session.

A section of judges, who attended the just ended Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges Association (above and below).

Another section of judges, who attended the just ended Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges Association (above and below).

The third section of judges, who attended the just ended Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges Association (above and below).

The fourth section of Judges and Magistrates, who attended the just ended Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges Association (above and below).