Caribbean Judges Speak Out on CCJ Confidentiality Breach

The Caribbean Court of Justice is under the spotlight tonight, not because of a ruling, but because of leaked internal communications. Now, senior judicial leaders from across the region, including Belize, are weighing in. In a joint statement, the heads of judiciary from Belize, Barbados, The Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court say they are concerned about recent public reports involving internal matters at the CCJ. They make it clear that they will not comment on the allegations or statements attributed to individual judges. But they are sounding the alarm over what they describe as a serious breach of confidentiality. The judicial leaders say the CCJ plays a critical role in the Caribbean. For some countries, it is the final court of appeal. For CARICOM states, it also handles matters involving the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. And they say its authority depends on public trust in the independence, integrity, impartiality, and competence of its judges. Despite the controversy, the heads of judiciary say they remain confident in the CCJ and its judges. They are also reaffirming their commitment to protecting the independence of regional courts and maintaining public confidence in the justice system.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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