CCJ hosts sensitisation on Original Jurisdiction training in Jamaica

From January 11 to 13, 2025, a team from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) traveled to Jamaica to hold informative sessions about the Court’s Original Jurisdiction and how judicial matters are referred to it. These sessions involved judicial officials, the General Legal Council (GLC), and the Public Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). They are part of a continuing initiative funded by the European Union aimed at increasing understanding of the CCJ’s role in safeguarding rights under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

According to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC), the CCJ has the sole authority to rule on disputes related to the interpretation and application of the Treaty within its Original Jurisdiction. Therefore, all issues arising from the CSME, such as the freedom of movement for people and capital, as well as the right to establish businesses, must be addressed by the CCJ. This is why the Court has launched a regional effort to educate the public on its Original Jurisdiction and the referral process that national courts must follow.

During a session in partnership with the Judicial Education Institute of Jamaica, the Honourable Mr. Justice Bryan Sykes OJ, CD, Chief Justice of Jamaica, highlighted the importance of the Treaty for CARICOM. He stated, “The RTC reflects an ambitious intention to rebuild our Caribbean societies by establishing institutions that will enable us to organise our affairs as we see fit. In effect it is creating a new Caribbean civilization not based on colonialism and slavery but on economic development, the development of human capital, the movement of persons and capital across the region.”

Mr. Piotr Byczkowski, Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Jamaica, Belize, and The Bahamas, also acknowledged the value of the sessions, stating that the knowledge gained would “ripple outward, strengthening the justice systems of our respective nations and, by extension, the Caribbean as a whole.”

The sessions were led by a team that included CCJ Judges Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson and Honourable Mme Justice Chantal Ononaiwu, along with Ms. Gladys Young from the CARICOM Secretariat, Mrs. Ria Mohammed-Pollard from the CCJ, and Mr. John Furlonge, Project Coordinator for the 11th European Development Fund Project. They employed various engaging teaching methods like case studies and group exercises to ensure active participation from the attendees.

After the sessions, Ms. Denise Kitson, Chair of the GLC, praised the effort, saying, “The General Legal Council is delighted to have partnered with the CCJ in its presentation to the legal profession in Jamaica on key aspects of the CSME regime, the CCJ’s referral mechanism and practice in the Original Jurisdiction of the Court. The presentations delivered by Justices Anderson and Ononaiwu and Ms. Gladys Young, Assistant General Counsel of CARICOM were truly excellent, and very well received by all participants! We applaud the Academy and look forward to future similar collaborative events.”

Ms. Sasha Vascianna-Riley, Executive Director of the PSOJ, shared similar thoughts, stating, “The PSOJ was pleased to partner with the Caribbean Court of Justice and the CARICOM Secretariat to host a highly impactful forum educating members on the CCJ, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the associated rights, obligations and opportunities for regional business growth. Attendees from diverse sectors, including finance, manufacturing, retail, and small businesses, gained valuable insights into leveraging the CSME and understanding developments in jurisprudence to deepen integration and drive expansion. Gladys Young’s exceptional presentation was thorough, accessible, and well-received, equipping participants with practical knowledge. Based on the success of this initiative, we look forward to a second session to further empower our members.”

Since starting the public education campaign in November 2022, the CCJ has also held similar sessions in Belize, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, including Saint Lucia. Two more sessions are planned for the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the private sector in Trinidad and Tobago later this year before the campaign concludes.

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