2. Group Members
Zoya Davis
Munyr Grant
Antoine Mcgrowder
Mark Robinson
Brian Williams
Roderick Archie
3. What Is the CCJ ?
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is the judicial institution of the Caribbean
Community.
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) critically determines how the CARICOM Single
Market and Economy (CSME) functions. The Court attracts investment to the region by
providing stability through the uniform interpretation and application of the law.
4. What Is the CCJ ?
The CCJ is currently presided over by seven judges, including the President of the Court.
These judges are qualified legal practitioners from the Caribbean Region and the
Commonwealth.
6. History Of The CCJ
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was established in 2001 and is located in Trinidad's
capital city; Port-of-Spain. It is the final Court of Appeal on civil and criminal matters for
the CARICOM Members States, namely Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Guyana.
The establishment of the CCJ came after, the Organization of Commonwealth Caribbean
Bar Associations (OCCBA) first raised the issue of the need to replace the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council as the court of last resort for the Commonwealth
Caribbean by a regional court of appeal in March 1970.
7. History Of The CCJ cont’d.
In its original jurisdiction, the CCJ interprets and applies the Revised Treaty of
Chaguaramas (which established the Caribbean Community), and is an international court
with compulsory and exclusive jurisdiction in respect of the interpretation of the treaty.
In its appellate jurisdiction, the CCJ hears appeals as the court of last resort in both civil
and criminal matters from those member states which have ceased to allow appeals to
the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC). As of March
2015, Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Guyana have replaced the JCPC's appellate
jurisdiction with that of the CCJ.
8. Aims And objectives of the CCJ
As the sole arbiter of disputes arising from the REVISED TREATY OF CHAGUARAMAS
(RTC) regime, the CCJ acts as a mechanism for the enforcement of the rights and
obligations created by the Treaty. The Court ensures the uniform interpretation and
application of the RTC, and is therefore crucial to the development of the CSME.
They are the Caribbean Academy of Law and Court Administration (CALCA), an
educational arm of the CCJ which has as its main objective the advancing of knowledge,
education, learning, research, and practical application of law and the administration of
justice in the Caribbean context and the Caribbean
9. Aims And objectives of the CCJ
Our Mission
Providing accessible, fair and efficient justice for the people and states of the Caribbean
Community
Our Vision
To be a model of judicial excellence
10. Aims And objectives of the CCJ
Our Values
Integrity – Be honest, do right, stand firm
Courtesy and Consideration – Demonstrate care and respect for all
Excellence – Demonstrate the highest quality of service and performance
Industry – Be diligent, go above and beyond
11. Projects/ achievements of the CCJ
First of all, the finances of the CCJ are as secure as the proverbial “Fort Knox”! You see,
the CCJ is financed out of the income generated by a permanent US$100 Million Trust
Fund that is administered by a highly professional Board of Trustees drawn from or
including the Heads of the Insurance Associations of the Caribbean
12. Projects/ achievements of the CCJ
The CCJ has exclusive and compulsory authority in interpreting and applying the Revised Treaty of
Chaguaramas. This means that parties in dispute under the Treaty only have judicial resolution in
this court.
The CCJ also serves as the final Court of Appeal for some Member states replacing the United
Kingdom’s Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) as the court of last resort in civil and
criminal matters.
13. Issues addressed by the CCJ
In this narrow capacity as an appellate court the CCJ has addressed a number of human
rights issues including the death penalty (Attorney General et al v Jeffrey & Lennox
Ricardo Boyce [CCJ Appeal No. CV 2 of 2005]) and labor rights (King v. Reyes et el [CCJ
Appeal No. CV 3 of 2011]).
