Sir Charles: CCJ functioning efficiently

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is fully operational in the original and appellate jurisdictions and is producing work in a timely and effective manner. So said its president Sir Charles Dennis Byron yesterday while speaking at a media engagement breakfast meeting at the CCJ headquarters, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain.

Byron welcomed Caribbean and Commonwealth journalists who are visiting for the International Press Institute World Congress 2012, which started yesterday at the Hyatt Regency. He said since the CCJ was established, 12 matters were filed—seven applications for special leave to commence proceedings and five originating applications.

He said ten of the 12 matters had been adjudicated and two were pending, with one fully argued and anticipating judgement later this month and the other in the initial stages. “Nonetheless, the CCJ has been functioning with efficiency and in a timely manner, to such extent that I can assure you that this latter matter will be completed and judgement delivered during the current year,” Byron said.

In the appellate jurisdiction, between 2005 and June this year, 94 matters were filed. He said, “This indicates that the ordinary folk now have additional scope and opportunity to be heard and to obtain justice.” He added that the court had delivered 64 written judgments to date—54 in the appellate jurisdiction and ten in the original jurisdiction.