President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Justice Adrian Sauders is not giving an appeal to the notion in Guyana and some other jurisdictions that the Court is biased.

The Caribbean Court of Justice was thrown into the local spotlight following the no-confidence motion against the APNU+AFC government in 2018 and the aftermath of the 2020 elections, which saw the PPP returning to government.

The Court has been heavily criticized by some for some of its judgments during the election period. But the President of the Court during the Guyana Bar Association’s dinner on Saturday assured that the Court has always carried out its mandate free of political and other influence.

Justice Saunders said “over the years the CCJ has had to address a wide range of cases, some of them involving delicate issues of great national and public importance. Always we have executed our responsibilities and will continue to do so without regard to race, colour, creed, class, political affiliation or other such matter”.

He explained, that when the Court hands down its judgments, there will always be an unsuccessful side; or a party that is unhappy with the manner in which the Court has resolved the matter.

“I am nevertheless satisfied that we have always passed judgment with sensitivity, with care, and with due regard for our honest understanding of the Constitution and the laws of this magnificent country,” Justice Saunders said.

The CCJ President noted that now more than ever, Guyana’s judiciary must be impartial, independent, competent, efficient, and effective.

“The judiciary must also be accountable to the people of Guyana. We can only earn the public’s trust if we demonstrate humility and accountability. How do we do that? The judiciary must, for example, establish and publish performance standards and live up to them,” Justice Saunders charged.

On the other hand, he said the Executive needs to provide the judiciary with its reasonable needs, noting that three judges on the Court of Appeal are simply not enough.

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