Justice Winston Anderson has been sworn in as the new President of the Caribbean Court of Justice. Justice Anderson, who joined the regional Court fifteen years ago as its youngest judge, has replaced Justice Adrian Saunders, who retired last month.
Anderson was sworn in as the Court’s fourth President on the heels of the opening of the 49th regular session of the Caricom Heads of government meeting in Jamaica on Sunday.
Delivering his inaugural address as President of the Court, Justice Anderson paid tribute to his predecessors, crediting them with building the foundation of what he calls “an institution of excellence”
“My fifteen years at the court has revealed a transformative potential. This year marks the 20th anniversary of that glorious April morning in 2005 when the CCJ moved from the parchment of an agreement into a living and functional institution. In those twenty years the court has served the people of this region with its full measure of devotion,” Justice Anderson said.
According to the new CCJ President, the Court was conceived and established by the people of the Caribbean to serve the Caribbean and has conducted hundreds of cases to guide member states.
He noted that the decisions of the Court have shaped the lives and way of life of many in the region.
“The CCJ stands as a pillar of independence and a symbol of our collective maturity. It is worth noting that in its appellate jurisdiction, the court has asserted reach and influence well beyond the five states of Belize, Barbados, St Lucia, Guyana and Dominica that have accepted that jurisdiction,” the CCJ President said.
He also said it was an opportune moment for other countries in the region to join the regional Court.
Meanwhile, outgoing President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders described Justice Anderson as a hard worker who will advance the jurisprudence of the region.
“Justice Anderson has demonstrated that he is a hardworking and dynamic judge. Since he joined the court he has sat on all the cases coming our way in which we have been tasked with interpreting and applying the revised treaty of chaguramus. He also sat one over 200 appeals from the various states that send their final appeals to us, Justice Saunders said.
Regional leaders also welcomed Justice Anderson as Head of the Regional Court and expressed confidence in his ability to move through Court forward.
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