Reference: PG/SYC/0659
Location: Mahe, Seychelles
Duration: 3 years | Salary: £48,800 per annum plus allowances
Closing Date: 18 Oct 2013
Location: Mahe, Seychelles
Duration: 3 years | Salary: £48,800 per annum plus allowances
Closing Date: 18 Oct 2013
Project Background
Improvements in the prosecutorial capacity of the Attorney General’s Office have significantly increased pressure on the justice system in Seychelles. This has been particularly keenly felt by the current complement of judges who have been unable to deal satisfactorily with the volume of cases and the growing backlog. Outdated court rules and administrative procedures and practices are also contributing to the problem. The result has been that the Supreme Court has accumulated a backlog of approximately 1200 criminal and civil cases, some dating back several years. This is made up of civil cases including ordinary civil suits, commercial cases, and divorce cases, among others.
Project Purpose
This project aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Supreme Court of Seychelles in order to improve the operational effectiveness of the judicial system. In doing so, this will reduce the backlog of criminal and civil cases and allow the current complement of locally appointed judges to focus on dealing with the current case load.
A more efficient and effective court system will strengthen the constitution and support the democratic development of Seychelles. It will also provide the people of Seychelles with greater access to justice, thereby improving perceptions of the judiciary. This will also extend to domestic and foreign investors whose increased confidence in an effective legal framework for trade will encourage the greater investment required to boost employment and economic growth.
Duties and Responsibilities
The project will place two judges in the Supreme Court of Seychelles for a period of three years and will report directly to the Chief Justice or nominee. During the project it is expected that the judges will undertake the following activities:
- Preside over cases as assigned;
- Assist the Chief Justice on developments with regards to commercial law;
- Assist the Chief Justice in the implementation of new court procedures and administrative rules;
- Provide mentoring to the locally appointed judges with regard to judgments in commercial cases;
- Assist the Chief Justice with any national judicial training programs; and
- Assist with any other request made by the Chief Justice.
Project Phase Outputs (Deliverables)
It is expected that the project will achieve:
- All backlog cases heard and appropriately dispose.
- Capacity of judiciary with regard to Commercial Law improved.
- Revised court procedures and administrative rules and practices developed and implemented.
Transfer of Expertise
The Commonwealth Secretariat attaches particular importance to the transfer of expertise and knowledge to counterparts.The judges will provide mentoring and guidance to locally appointed judges in adopting new procedures and practices.
Implementation Arrangements
The experts will work closely with Commonwealth Secretariat Advisers in delivering this technical assistance. The expert will be based at the Supreme Court of Seychelles in Victoria for a period of three years and will report to the Chief Justice or nominee.
Qualifications and Experience
- Degree and professional qualification in law.
- Minimum of 10 years professional experience as a Judge of a Supreme Court (or equivalent), in any Commonwealth jurisdiction including:-
- a minimum of 5 years’ experience of hearing commercial cases at the High Court or equivalent level; or
- a minimum of 5 years’ experience in trying serious criminal offences in a common law or mixed jurisdiction.
- Strong presentation, communication and report writing skills.
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Proficiency in computer skills such as Word Processing, Spreadsheet, and PowerPoint Presentations.
Desirable
- Experience of developing and delivering capacity building inputs for the justice sector
- Familiarity with the original Code Napoleon which is the basis of the law of the obligations (Contract and Succession Law), Delict (Tort Law), Civil Status and Land Law.
- Experience of working in a Commonwealth Country and/or in the Africa region.
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