(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett on Friday 14 November extended best wishes to the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson and his team, as the CCJ launched of its first Strategic Plan under Justice Anderson’s Presidency.
Delivering remarks from the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters at a ceremony to launch the Plan, the Secretary-General said that the Community looks forward to the work of the CCJ, as it honours its legacy and shapes legal horizons over the next seven years.
The full address reads as follows:
Accepting all protocols that have been established, permit me to simply acknowledge the President, Judges and Staff of the Caribbean Court of Justice and all the CCJ stakeholders participating in this launch event
Specially invited guests
Distinguished ladies and gentlemenI am pleased to bring just a few remarks this morning as the Caribbean Court of Justice launches its Strategic Plan for the next seven years.
The CCJ is one of the most vital Institutions of CARICOM, having sole and exclusive jurisdiction over the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
It is the Caribbean Court of Justice, whose interpretation and development of Community jurisprudence, as provided in Decisions and Advisory Opinions, that helps to flesh out the Treaty architecture of our Community, and set out the approach of the Court in issues dealing with the Treaty and trade within the Community.
In original jurisdiction cases, the Court has also focused on the rights of Community nationals. This is likely to increase, given the recent decision by four CARICOM Member States to move ahead to implement full free movement of Community Nationals among themselves.
The over 40 original jurisdiction cases decided so far in the two decades of the CCJ have been invaluable in helping our Community and its Member States to better understand and implement the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. We are richer in knowledge and understanding because of the diligent work of this Court, and we expect to gain even more as this work continues.
The CARICOM Secretariat, CARICOM Members States and Associate Members, extend our very best wishes to the Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson and his team, as the CCJ commences implementation of its first Strategic Plan under his Presidency. We look forward to the work of the CCJ, as it honours its legacy and shapes legal horizons over the next seven years.
We are confident that the Court will impart more guidance, more insight, and more wisdom to the people of CARICOM and their governments, with justice that is timely, tempered and learned.
I wish all of you the very best as you seek to implement this very well-prepared Strategic Plan for the next seven years.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
