VI Law Professionals Urged Renewed Purpose as
Law practitioners in the Virgin Islands gathered for the Opening of the Law Year 2026 at Shekinah House of Prayer Church of God of Prophecy in mid-January, urged to recommit to justice, modernise court processes and restore public confidence. In a new report, Senior Pastor Da-Ana L.C. Samuel told attendees they were placed in their roles by God to "execute justice," urging them to seek wisdom alongside legal knowledge (VINO).
Law practitioners across the Virgin Islands gathered for the Opening of the Law Year 2026 service at Shekinah House of Prayer Church of God of Prophecy in mid-January, in an event that echoed the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s (ECSC) theme for the year: "The ECSC: Justice that Endures - Anchored in Independence, Strengthened through Trust." VINO reports the local service took place on Monday, January 13, 2025 (earlier coverage referenced January 12).
Presiding over the service, Mrs Vanterpool-Nibbs described the occasion as more than a calendar milestone, calling it "a reaffirmation of our collective agreement to justice, service and the rule of law," and stressing the need for the justice system to evolve to meet increasingly complex social and economic challenges in the Territory (VINO).
She praised the resilience and hard work of judicial officers and court staff and urged legal professionals to reflect on achievements, confront challenges honestly and recommit to strengthening public trust through practical reforms. Mrs Vanterpool-Nibbs highlighted priorities for the year including the modernisation of court processes, improved case management and greater access to justice.
Organisers said these measures aim to reduce delays, enhance transparency and make the justice system more navigable for residents, businesses and vulnerable litigants across the BVI. "Our mission remains the same, which is to serve the people of these islands with fairness, transparency, and integrity," she said, wishing the new year would bring progress, strengthened partnerships and renewed determination among legal practitioners (VINO).
During the service, Senior Pastor Da-Ana L.C. Samuel delivered a teaching titled "The Value of Wisdom," in which she reminded law professionals that they occupy their positions because "God placed you there." As reported by VINO, Pastor Samuel told attendees, "You are where you are because God placed you there, and you have to recognise that.
God placed us here." She urged them to seek knowledge, understanding and, importantly, the wisdom of God to guide their decisions and reduce mistakes. Pastor Samuel outlined a three-part framework: knowledge (facts), understanding (comprehension and obedience) and wisdom (the ability to apply knowledge and understanding to arrive at correct, moral answers).
She said this divine wisdom is essential when legal professionals feel exhausted or overwhelmed and encouraged them to put God first, asserting that "as long as you seek the Lord, the Lord will give you success... make you prosper" (VINO). The local service coincided with the ECSC’s official opening and special sitting in Dominica, where Her Ladyship the Honourable Margaret Price Findlay, Acting Chief Justice, delivered the keynote address from the High Court in Dominica.
A special offering collected at the Virgin Islands service will be donated to charity. For BVI residents, the combined calls from judicial leaders and religious speakers point to a year focused on strengthening judicial independence, repairing public trust and pursuing concrete reforms that could shorten waiting times for hearings and make legal processes more accessible and transparent.
Primary source: VINO