Annual Report of the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago 2012-2013 Annual Report 2012-2013 | Page 39

Administration of Workmen’s Compensation Claims The Accounts and Investment Unit of the Judiciary is responsible for the payment or settlement of compensation funds to injured workmen; or to the dependants of those workmen who sustain fatal injuries. In the latter case, the payment is made in accordance with an order of the Court. Settlement of all fatal claims for citizens of Trinidad and Tobago is made within six months of the payment of the lump sum into court while similar settlement in respect of overseas nationals is made within nine months of the lump sum payment into court. In addition, all non-fatal claims are made within one month of the deposit of the lump sum into court. During the period June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013, there were 223 claims made for the payment of Workmen’s Compensation. Of these claims 11 are in respect of fatalities for persons who were nationals of Trinidad and Tobago. There were 20 applications for the appointment of Medical referees. There were 21 applications to the Court for the payment of compensation and a further 171 claims for compensation for non-fatal, but permanent partial disabilities. The table below shows the Unit’s achievements over the period June 2012 to May 2013: Description No. of No. Percent Applications Settled Settled • Fatal Claims • Medical Referees • Application for Compensation • Non-Fatal Claims 11 20 21 171 6 20 12 155 55 100 57 91 Non-fatal claims that are not settled during this period are in relation to persons who have not come forward or who are seeking redress under some other arrangement. Unresolved fatal claims are in process and are still within the objective period. The Workmen’s Compensation Unit of the Judiciary has in the past been called upon to play a central role in the discharge of all compensation claims. Because of the centrality of the Unit’s role it proposes the introduction of a joint programme of national awareness together with the Ministry of Labour. The Unit’s past challenges have signalled that there must be the positive involvement of all stakeholders from the beginning of the process. With this in mind, the Unit intends to strengthen linkages with staff of foreign embassies, in particular, those whose citizens are employed in hazardous or risk-sensitive jobs, insurance companies, insurance brokers and all financial institutions that are used in facilitating the settlement of workmen’s compensation claims. next three years initially . The plan seeks to ensure that, as the Judiciary carries out its constitutional mandate, its customers are satisfied with the standard of outputs from the Courts. Central to implementing the plan will be the promotion of a Judiciary culture underpinned by core values of excellence, commitment, accountability, integrity and service. These will form the basis of the reshaped identity of the institution. The plan takes into consideration a number of strategic issues currently affecting the Judiciary and its customers. These include delays, outdated and inadequate facilities, productivity issues, as well as information management and communication challenges. It seeks to sequence the solutions into a holistic framework emphasising the customer first and recognising that the capacity of the organisation to deliver on its mandate is deeply connected to governance, culture, stakeholder relationships, public understanding of the organisation, as well as infrastructure. The d iagram below summarises the Judiciary’s Strategic Focus for 2013-2016. Judiciary Strategic Focus (2013-2016) During the past year, the Judiciary also concentrated on reviewing its strategic direction and developing an updated plan in the form of a Strategic Focus document, which speaks to the organisation’s vision for the administration of civil and criminal justice in Trinidad and Tobago, and which will guide the institution on the way forward for the Staff of the Accounts and Investment Unit from left: Ms Sharda Maharaj, Ms Sharmilla Sandassie, Mr Jameson Melville (Unit head) and Mr Kristian Meade 37 Reshaping the Judiciary Identity