Regional Judicial heads gravely concerned over leak of CCJ internal correspondence; Remain confident in CCJ

The Heads of the Judiciary in Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago which subscribe to the original and or appellate jurisdictions of the Caribbean Court of Justice, have expressed concern over the leak of internal correspondence between Justices of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The statement comes following an explosive revelation over the weekend in the Sunday Express, about the leadership of the Court and the concerns of some judges about the Court’s President.

The Judicial Heads said it does not consider it appropriate to comment on the issues raised in the leaked emails, but they are concerned about the “breach of confidentiality”.

“We do not consider it appropriate to comment upon the merits of statements or allegations attributed to individual judges, nor upon matters arising within the internal deliberative or administrative processes of the Court. However, we express grave concern about the breach of confidentiality which resulted in the disclosure of what appear to be internal communications,” the Judicial Heads noted.

In the joint statement, the Judicial Heads explained that The Caribbean Court of Justice occupies a position of profound importance as a regional institution and within the regional judicial architecture.

They noted that for those States which have acceded to its appellate jurisdiction, the CCJ remains the final arbiter and for most states of the Caribbean Community it is the Court of original jurisdiction vested with the power to adjudicate on matters involving the Revised Treaty of Chaguramas.

As a result, the Judicial heads said the CCJ’s authority, like that of all Courts, rests upon public confidence in the independence, impartiality, integrity and competence of its judges.

“We remain confident in the Caribbean Court of Justice as a vital regional judicial institution and in the commitment of its judges to the principles which underpin the administration of justice throughout the Caribbean, “the Statement reads.

The Heads of Judiciary also reaffirmed their commitment to the independence of all regional judiciaries, the institutional integrity of the Caribbean Court of Justice, and the enduring importance of maintaining public trust and confidence in the courts of the region.

The Caribbean Court of Justice in a statement over the leaked emails stated that the Judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice remain committed to the tenets of judicial conduct enshrined in the United Nations Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct—independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, competence, and diligence.

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