…as court filings increase
(Kaieteur News) – Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President Justice Winston Anderson has pledged to ensure that the regional court remains accessible to the people of the Caribbean, as the institution begins its 2026-2027 judicial year with an increase in case filings and renewed efforts to deepen Caribbean jurisprudence.
“What does it mean to be CCJ? It means being the court of the Caribbean, for the Caribbean, independent in judgment, steadfast in purpose, committed to serve,” Anderson said on Monday as the CCJ marked the opening of its new court year.
President of CCJ Winston Anderson
He said the opening of a new judicial year provides an opportunity to reflect on the strides made by the court while looking ahead to what promises to be a productive and impactful year in service to the people of the region.
“Our jurisprudence remains strong, principled, and respected. The court is fully engaged, fully dedicated, and ready for the 2026-2027 judicial year and the years beyond,” Anderson said.
Anderson statement comes less than two months after the court was rocked by a scandal.
An explosive internal rift at the Caribbean court had triggered fresh concerns about the independence and credibility of the region’s highest court, following leaked emails in which sitting judges had accused Anderson of “dictatorial” leadership, panel manipulation and attempts to influence judicial opinions.
However, in a statement the CCJ had reaffirmed its commitment to judicial independence, integrity and public confidence in the administration of justice, saying the questions and allegations could be misunderstood or mischaracterised without the proper context.
In its statement, the regional tribunal stressed that its judges remain guided by the principles of the United Nations Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct and committed to delivering fair, accessible and efficient justice across the Caribbean Community.
Meanwhile, Legal Counsel in the Office of the President, Hilary Wyke, outlined the court’s progress over the past 21 years and its plans for the new judicial year.
Wyke said the CCJ has spent the past two decades building an institution grounded in judicial independence, integrity, excellence and service to the people and states of the region.
She said the court’s strategic plan, Harnessing Growth, Deepening Caribbean Jurisprudence, calls for action in several key areas, including making justice more accessible, better use of technology, stronger engagement with the region and continued investment in the judges and staff who sustain the institution.
Wyke said the court’s decisions and judgments have been widely accepted, applied and cited across the region.
During the past year, she said, the CCJ delivered judgments which further developed Caribbean law and received its first referral from a national court.
The court also took steps to make its decisions more accessible, including translating a judgment into Dutch and introducing new ways of explaining its judgments to members of the public.
“We have now noted an increase in case filings over the last court year,” Wyke said.
She said the court’s work on accessibility and public engagement will continue, with “bolder and more modern ways” of explaining its judgments, showcasing its extrajudicial activities and raising awareness of the institution.
Wyke also highlighted strengthened relationships between the CCJ and courts and institutions within the Caribbean and beyond, noting the benefits of cooperation with regional and international courts, bodies and sectors.
For the first time, she said, the CCJ will commemorate the opening of a new judicial year outside its headquarters, with the ceremony scheduled for 7th October in St Lucia.
St Lucia is the fifth CARICOM Member State to accede to the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ.
Wyke said the decision to hold the ceremony in St Lucia is significant because “the court should never feel distant from the people it serves.”
The CCJ will also hear matters and deliver judgments in its appellate jurisdiction during the St Lucia engagement, allowing litigants, attorneys, judicial officers and members of the public to witness the court’s work firsthand.
Anderson said that at the ceremonial opening, he will speak in greater detail about the court’s work during the past year and its trajectory for the new judicial year.
He expressed confidence that the court’s efforts to deliver accessible and efficient justice, advance the rule of law and protect the rights of Caribbean people will demonstrate its continued commitment to the region.
“I am certain that our efforts to administer and deliver accessible and efficient justice, advance the rule of law, and protect your rights will demonstrate our continued commitment to you, the people of the region,” Anderson said.
Source: Kaieteur News
