Ministry of Justice Advances Criminal Mediation through Phase II Practitioner Training

Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, 24 August 2026: The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs has
commenced Phase II of its Criminal Mediation Training Programme, marking a further step in
strengthening the institutional and practitioner capacity required to operationalise restorative and
alternative justice mechanisms in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The four day programme, being held from 24 to 27 August 2026, builds on the foundational
work undertaken during Phase I and places greater emphasis on practical application,
institutional readiness and the development of a competent cohort of criminal mediation
practitioners.

The programme is supported under the Justice Action Coalition Initiative implemented by the
United Nations Development Programme Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Office, as part of
wider efforts to strengthen access to justice and advance more responsive and people centred
justice services in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Supporting the Wider Justice Reform Agenda

The training forms part of the Government’s broader justice reform agenda and is being
undertaken in preparation for the anticipated introduction and implementation of the forthcoming
Restorative Justice Bill, which will provide an important framework for the continued
development of restorative justice in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The Ministry is therefore advancing the institutional and human capacity required to support
implementation alongside the development of the legal and policy framework. This includes
preparing practitioners, clarifying referral pathways and institutional responsibilities,
strengthening safeguards and identifying the operational arrangements necessary for restorative
and alternative justice mechanisms to function effectively in practice.

Criminal and community mediation forms part of this wider approach. While formal
investigation, prosecution and adjudication remain fundamental to the rule of law, appropriate
cases may benefit from structured alternative justice processes that promote accountability,
address harm, support rehabilitation and enable affected persons to participate meaningfully in
the resolution of matters.

Speaking at the opening of the programme, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice
and Legal Affairs, Ms Nerissa Williams, underscored the importance of building both
practitioner and institutional capacity:

“We are building the human and institutional capacity required to make alternative justice
a credible and effective part of the administration of justice. This requires not only
capable practitioners, but clear referral pathways, strong safeguards, defined institutional
responsibilities and effective coordination across the justice system.”

Moving from Foundation to Practical Application

Phase II represents a deliberate transition from foundational learning towards practical
application. Participants are working through the national criminal mediation framework, referral
and case management pathways, institutional roles and responsibilities, safeguarding
considerations and the management of vulnerabilities and power imbalances.

The programme also provides intensive practical development in active listening, intentional
questioning, reframing, emotional regulation, de escalation, management of high conflict
situations and impasses, consensus building and the development of workable restorative
agreements. Participants will progress into role plays and full scale mediation simulations based
on locally relevant police, probation and community case scenarios.
Particular attention is being given to the safeguards required for a credible criminal mediation
process, including voluntariness, confidentiality, neutrality, participant safety and the
identification of vulnerabilities, significant power imbalances and domestic or gender based
violence dynamics that may make mediation inappropriate.

Preparing for Implementation

An important objective of Phase II is to assess readiness for implementation. The practical
exercises will assist in identifying areas requiring further mentoring, supervision or capacity
development, while also providing the Ministry with an opportunity to identify operational issues
that should be addressed as the wider restorative justice framework moves towards
implementation.

The Ministry’s approach recognises that effective justice reform requires more than the adoption
of legislation or policy. Sustainable implementation also requires trained practitioners, clear
institutional arrangements, appropriate safeguards and coordination among the institutions and
services responsible for supporting persons who enter the justice system.

The outcomes of Phase II will therefore inform the continued development of practitioner
capacity and the institutional arrangements required to support the phased implementation of
criminal mediation and the wider restorative justice framework in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Through UNDP and Justice Action Coalition Initiativethe Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs
will continue working with national and development partners to strengthen access to justice and
advance justice responses that are accountable, accessible, restorative and responsive to the
needs of individuals and communities.

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