Editorial Standards
Our review process is designed to be rigorous, fair, and transparent. This policy is published in full so that authors and reviewers understand exactly what to expect.
JCAIS uses a double-blind peer review model for all research articles and policy papers. Under this model, neither the authors nor the reviewers know each other's identities during the review process. This approach protects against conscious or unconscious bias based on institutional affiliation, seniority, or geographic origin.
All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial screen before being sent to peer review. The editorial board evaluates scope fit, minimum methodological standards, and formatting compliance. Papers that do not pass this screen are returned to authors within five business days with brief feedback.
Authors submit via the editorial email or submission portal (OJS, when deployed). Submissions must include a title page (with author details) as a separate file, and an anonymised manuscript with all identifying information removed.
The managing editor reviews scope, formatting, and minimum methodological standards. Papers deemed out of scope or below the desk-review threshold are returned with feedback. Papers that pass proceed to reviewer assignment.
The section editor identifies a minimum of two independent reviewers with relevant subject matter expertise. Reviewers are asked to confirm availability and the absence of conflicts of interest before receiving the manuscript.
Reviewers evaluate the manuscript using JCAIS's structured review form (available below). Our target turnaround is two to four weeks from reviewer acceptance. Reviewers unable to meet this timeline are asked to notify the editorial office promptly so that alternatives can be arranged.
The section editor synthesises reviewer reports and makes one of four decisions: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject. Authors receive the decision with full reviewer comments.
Authors respond to reviewer comments in a revision memo. Minor revisions are assessed by the editor. Major revisions are typically returned to at least one original reviewer. Authors are given 3 weeks for minor revisions and 6 weeks for major revisions.
Accepted manuscripts enter editorial production. Authors are contacted for final proofing. Articles are published in the next available issue of the relevant volume.
All accepted manuscripts must meet the following criteria:
The work must represent original research or analysis not previously published. Preprints are permitted and do not preclude submission, but must be disclosed.
The research must address a question directly relevant to AI development, deployment, or governance in the Caribbean or comparable small-state contexts. General AI methodology papers without regional application will not be accepted.
Empirical studies must clearly describe data sources, methods, and limitations. Claims must be supported by evidence. Authors must report model performance metrics, confidence intervals where applicable, and acknowledge potential biases in datasets or approaches.
Papers must be written clearly and accessibly, with technical material appropriately explained. We encourage authors to include a non-technical summary and to consider the policy implications of their findings.
Studies involving human subjects, personal data, or sensitive government systems must disclose ethical review status. Authors must declare any conflicts of interest, funding sources, and data availability status.
Data Availability: JCAIS strongly encourages authors to make their data, code, and analysis scripts publicly available where possible. We accept submissions where data is commercially sensitive or restricted, but authors must clearly explain access limitations.
JCAIS reviewers are asked to evaluate manuscripts on the following dimensions:
Reviewers are expected to provide substantive, constructive feedback — not simply a summary of the paper. JCAIS aims to make the review experience useful for authors regardless of outcome.
Reviewers must declare any conflict of interest (prior collaboration with authors, competing research, institutional relationships) before accepting an assignment. Reviews must remain confidential; reviewers may not share manuscripts with third parties without explicit editorial permission.
The identities of reviewers are kept confidential and are not disclosed to authors at any stage of the process. Editors are equally bound by confidentiality with respect to both author and reviewer identities during active review.
Authors should note that editorial board members may, on occasion, act as reviewers for manuscripts outside their own area of editorial responsibility. Such arrangements are disclosed internally and managed to prevent conflicts.
Authors who believe a rejection decision was based on a misunderstanding of their work or a procedural error may submit a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief at editor@caribbeanaijournal.org within 30 days of the decision. Appeals must clearly explain the grounds for reconsideration and may not simply repeat arguments already addressed by reviewers.
JCAIS follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We take seriously allegations of plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission, and authorship disputes. Confirmed violations may result in rejection, retraction of published work, or notification of the author's institution.
Authors are required to confirm, at submission, that all authors listed meet the authorship criteria of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) (adapted for the AI research context): each listed author must have made a substantial contribution to conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, or drafting of the manuscript.
JCAIS welcomes expressions of interest from qualified researchers wishing to join our reviewer pool. We particularly welcome reviewers with expertise in: machine learning, econometrics, climate science, public administration, insurance modelling, development economics, and AI ethics — especially those with Caribbean, SIDS, or emerging-economy research backgrounds.
To express interest, email editor@caribbeanaijournal.org with your CV and a brief description of your areas of expertise.