City of Belmopan, Belize, November 27, 2024 – Under the PACE Justice Project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Belize Country Office, nine laptops were procured for police prosecutors, providing them with the necessary digital tools to facilitate case management, research, and communication.

This investment addressed critical resource gaps, enabling police prosecutors to modernize their workflow and improve the preparation and presentation of cases in court. With these laptops, police prosecutors will benefit from improved data organization, better access to legal information, and reduced administrative delays, which in turn will accelerate the resolution of criminal cases. Mr. Michael Lund, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, and Ms. Amilin Mendez, Team Lead, Inclusive Growth, Digitization and Governance at UNDP, handed over the laptops. Deputy Police Commissioner Bartholomew Jones and Ms. Alifa Elrington, Head of the Prosecution Branch, received the equipment on behalf of Mr. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police.

Additionally, the PACE Justice Project has also introduced vLex, a state-of-the-art online legal research platform, to the Police Prosecution Unit. vLex provides access to an extensive online library of case law, legislation, and legal commentary from multiple jurisdictions. With this resource, 31 police prosecutors will be able to conduct legal research with greater speed and precision. This platform will enable them to prepare more robust cases based on a comprehensive analysis of legal precedents, statutes, and evidence-based arguments.

The combined provision of laptops and access to vLex is expected to significantly improve the quality and efficiency of police prosecutions in Belize. By reducing the time spent on research and administrative tasks, prosecutors will increase efficiency, thus helping to address the backlog of criminal cases and minimizing delays in the judicial process.

This initiative reflects the PACE Justice Project’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the justice system in Belize, making it more transparent, efficient, and accessible. The total investment is valued at USD30,000/BZE60,000.

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Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBTbpH

For more information, please contact:

United Nations Development Programme: Zenena Moguel, zenena.moguel@undp.org | Communication Analyst

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The Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) Regional Programme is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the Delegation of the European Union. The goal of the PACE Justice Programme is to improve the efficiency of criminal justice administration in the Caribbean by enhancing the institutional capacities of police forces, prosecutors, lawyers, courts and prisons.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org/belize or follow at @UNDPBelize.