On Sunday, July 6, 2025, the Honourable Mr Justice Winston Anderson was officially sworn in as the fourth President of the Caribbean Court of Justice in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
CCJ reports that the ceremony was conducted by His Excellency, the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, KSt.J, Governor-General of Jamaica. This event preceded the opening of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and was attended by the CARICOM Secretary-General, regional Heads of Judiciaries, Government Ministers, former CCJ Presidents, and other dignitaries.
During his address, President Anderson—who is a Jamaican national and the first from his country to be appointed to the CCJ bench—stated, “As I assume the office of President of the Court, I do so not in isolation, but as part of a broader regional movement of national judiciaries dedicated to delivering accessible justice, ensuring respect for and advancing the rule of law, protecting and promoting human rights, and supporting sustainable development in our countries.”
Judge Anderson was appointed to the Court in 2010, said a CCJ media release. Before his appointment, he served as a lecturer at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, from 1988 to 2003. During his tenure, he held positions such as Deputy Dean, Head of the Teaching Department of Law, and was a Senior Lecturer in Law at UWI. Additionally, he served as General Counsel for CARICOM on secondment from The UWI.
In discussing the significance of the Presidency within the region, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, CBE, commented, “the Office of the President carries not only the highest responsibility within the judicial system but also embodies the trust and confidence of the people. It is a role that calls for wisdom in judgment, integrity in conduct, and leadership in times of challenge and change. The CCJ President not only presides over judgments but also influences the tone, integrity, and institutional strength of the Court itself. This leadership will be crucial as we navigate complex legal issues in an era defined by technological change, social transformation, and global interconnectedness.”
Mr Justice Anderson will serve as President for a maximum of seven years, in accordance with the statutory term. He succeeds Mr Justice Adrian Saunders, who was present at the swearing-in ceremony.
Commenting on President Anderson, Mr Justice Saunders stated, “Throughout his time at the CCJ, Mr Justice Anderson fully demonstrated that he is an extremely hard-working and dynamic Judge. Since he joined the Court, he has sat on all the cases that have come our way in which we have been tasked with interpreting and applying the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. He has also sat on over 200 appeals from the various states that send their final appeals to us. He has written or co-authored some 32 opinions, and in most of these, he has delivered the leading opinion of the Court.”
Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chair of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, extended his congratulations to President Anderson, stating, “to the Honourable Mr Justice Winston Anderson, I extend warm and sincere congratulations. Your appointment is a moment of pride not only for Jamaica but for the entire region. You bring to this office a distinguished legal mind, profound commitment to Caribbean jurisprudence, and decades of service grounded in scholarship and vision.”
Sworn-in in Jamaica by the head of state, a member state that has yet to adopt the CCJ as it’s final court.
The paradox of Caricom.
But as The Worl Boss(Vybes Kartel) would most likely say, “THANK GOD🙏”