High Court Registry

Registrar (Ag.): Ms. Paula Ajarie

Mailing Address: PO Box 418, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Tel: 284/494-3492
Fax: 284/494-6664

History

A statutory instrument established the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court in 1967, replacing what had been the Supreme Court of the Windward Islands since 1959.

The Order bringing the Court into existence was extended by Statutory Instrument to encompass the Virgin Islands. The West Indies Associated States Supreme Court was renamed the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in 1983.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is comprised of nine Eastern Caribbean States and consists of the High Court and of the Court of Appeal. The High Court of the Virgin Islands is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. In the Virgin Islands, the High Court Registry is one of the departments under the Office of the Deputy Governor, and is tasked with providing administrative support to the local Supreme Court and to assist in the dispensation of justice.

Plans and Programmes

We aim to implement the modernisation of the procedure of the courts and to facilitate the process of Case Management and Mediation. Our goal is to deliver a high quality of judicial service to the citizens and residents of the Virgin Islands, the wider Caribbean, and beyond.

Revenue

2005	Other Fees	$75,375.00
	Other Fines	$48,524.00
	Judiciary	$48,524.00
2004	Fees and Other Charges	$9,843.00
	Fines and Forfeitures	$38,930.00
2003	Fees and Other Charges	$69,318.10
	Fines and Forfeitures	$38,930.00
2002	Fees and Other Charges	$57,793.28
	Fines and Forfeitures	$1,788,607.08
2001	Fees and Other Charges	$56,921.23
	Fines and Forfeitures	$67,960.91

Budget Expenditure

2005	$1,621,171.00
2004	$1,583,428.00
2003	$1,494,731.00
2002	$1,307,128.00
2001	$1,205,676.00

Reports

Mediation has been successfully implemented in the BVI. There is a roster of 11 trained mediators and comfortable, spacious accommodation to facilitiate the mediation process. To date, there have been 51 referrals to mediation. Advanced training for Mediators has now been completed.

The Case Management process is successfully in operation and there is no backlog of cases in the BVI.

We are in the process of establishing the Commercial Court Division in the BVI due to the tremendous growth in the amount of major international commercial litigation, especially in the BVI. This is necessary to proved an efficient and responsive judicial service required by a high demand and economically crucial sector.

We are still looking forward to having all the units of the department housed in one location to enhance our overall efficiency.