‘Competent Judiciary Vital To Better Economy’
By Grace Jiu

Bandar Seri Begawan – All countries uphold the need for an independent, competent, and transparent judiciary, supported by ethical and reliable lawyers.

This was said by Brunei Supreme Court's Justice Datin Paduka Hjh Hayati POKSDSP Hj Mohd Salleh at a press conference of the International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms in Makati City, Philippines.

She stressed the need to provide accessibility to justice to the poor, adding that an independent, respected, competent, corruption-free and transparent judiciary is important to attract foreign investments to a country.

In order to achieve a supreme judiciary with all qualities needed, Datin Paduka Hjh Hayati highlighted the need for adequate budget for the judiciary to enhance efficiency through IT infrastructure and adequate remuneration of judges and judicial staff to eliminate the lure of corruption.

She also said lawyers are an integral part of the judiciary system, and urged judges and lawyers to work together, a direction that is in line with Honourable Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Mohd Said's vision to achieve an independent, competent and transparent judiciary.

Meanwhile, the International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms in the Philippines on November 28-30 was attended by some 127 delegates - comprising chief justices and judges - from 45 countries.

Brunei was represented by Justice Datin Paduka Hjh Hayati and High Court Registrar Dl. Hih Norismayanti Pg Hj ismail.

Themed "Strengthening the Judiciaries of the 21" Century", the conference also focused on "Judicial Independence, Accountability, Integrity , and Competence Access to Justice", and "Judicial Reform Management, implementation and Knowledge Sharing".

The objectives of the event were to facilitate the sharing of ideas, experiences, best practices and reform initiatives that address issues on judicial independence, integrity, transparency, accountability, efficiency and access to justice; identify areas of collaboration among Asia-Pacific justices, judges, legal institutions to promote judicial and legal reforms; and institutionalise a knowledge-sharing and knowledge management mechanism through the organisation of an Asia-Pacific Judicial Reform.

In a message from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Philippine Supreme Court's action programme for judicial reforms has significantly impacted on the improved administration of justice in the country.

She remarked that from the viewpoint of international cooperation, the forum has the potential of paving the way for stronger partnership and coordination among the world's judiciaries.

She added that this is vital in the light of increasing prevalence of crossborder crimes and the continuing threat of terrorism that call for multilateral solutions and the output of the conference can certainly be of great help in evolving a system of administering laws under a closely-knit regional community.

Besides being an avenue of judicial foray, the conference also saw a showcase of judicial reform projects through exhibition booths set up by invited countries.

Meanwhile, tso major outcomes that were achieved at the conference were the Manila Declaration and the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Judicial Reform Network.

In recent years, the demand for more equitable and rapid socio-economic development had grown apace with global, regional, national and sub-national political, economical, administrative and technological trends-integrating economies, , and with the flow of persons, goods and services increasing within and across national boundaries at a time when numerous countries are embarking on judicial reform, as a result of which the demands on and expectations from judicial systems have grown exponentially, placing further challenges on already stretched systems.

The Manila Declaration, meanwhile, signed by all delegates, is a collective commitment to consolidate the potential for judicial knowledge-sharing and provide a vehicle for future collaboration for the benefit of judiciaries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Based on the declaration, the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Judicial Reform Network is for knowledge sharing on judicial reform experiences and possible common approaches to addressing issues with cross-border implications, and recommit themselves to implement their respective national programmes to strengthen core judicial independence and accountability principles as well as principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Beijing Declaration on Independence of the Judiciary. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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