The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has written to the CARICOM Secretary-General, the current Chairman of CARICOM and the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), calling for an internal investigation into the reports of serious divisions within the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

In a statement on Wednesday, the GTUC said it remains deeply concerned about the contents published in the Sunday Express in Trinidad, where some Judges of the Court expressed their disquiet over the management of the Court by its President, Justice Winston Anderson.

The reported concerns include allegations of authoritarian management, alleged attempts to influence judicial outcomes, alleged manipulation of judicial panels and disputes over the administration of cases.

In its statement, the GTUC said its intervention is grounded in the fact that the CCJ is Guyana’s final Court. The Guyana Trades Union Congress is the umbrella trade union body in Guyana.

“The Congress is therefore concerned that allegations of internal dysfunction or manipulation of judicial panels could reinforce reservations among those states that have not yet acceded to the Court’s appellate jurisdiction. The GTUC is particularly concerned about reports surrounding D’Almada v Trinidad and Tobago, including Justice Eboe-Osuji’s reported allegation that he was removed from the panel following a disagreement with President Anderson over a point of law,” the Congress said.

The GTUC said it notes that the reported contents of the leaked emails remain allegations, which have not been independently established. However, it said while it will not be prejudging the matters raised, it believes that their seriousness requires a credible examination by the appropriate regional authorities.

“The controversy has also emerged alongside the CCJ’s recent handling of the high-profile extradition proceedings involving Guyanese Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed. The GTUC is not alleging that the Court’s ruling in that matter was improperly reached. However, where questions concerning judicial administration arise in the context of politically sensitive litigation, protecting the appearance of impartiality is essential,” the GTUC noted.

Among other things, the GTUC said there should be an internal investigation into the allegations contained in the leaked correspondences as well as an examination of judicial panel assignments and changes, including the D’Almada matter.

The Congress has issued a call for an assessment of safeguards against administrative, political or partisan influence and a  review of whether the Court’s governance arrangements require strengthening. It also said there should be public disclosure of the investigation’s findings, subject to legitimate judicial confidentiality and privilege.

The GTUC is urging CARICOM’s leadership and the RJLSC to act promptly and transparently to ensure that the concerns raised are properly examined, and that confidence in the CCJ is preserved.

Related posts:

CCJ concerns should be best addressed through a transparent and independent review -says Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission Regional Judicial heads gravely concerned over leak of CCJ internal correspondence; Remain confident in CCJ GTUC gets permission to join GTU’s case against Government over teachers’ strike GTUC calls on Government to meet with GTU; Rubbishes VP Jagdeo’s statements on GTU General Secretary