CCJ president condemns leak of confidential documents amid leadership allegations

Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President Justice Winston Anderson has strongly condemned the "unauthorised disclosure and publication of confidential material" concerning the court's internal deliberations and correspondence. He described the recent press reports, which have caused "concern, anxiety and profound sadness," as particularly distressing given the CCJ's significance as a symbol of Caribbean self-determination and belief in regional capability.

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in the strongest possible terms, the unauthorised disclosure and publication of confidential material relating to the internal deliberations and confidential correspondence of the Court.

The controversy stems from reports in the Trinidad and Tobago Sunday Express newspaper, alleging that Justice Anderson, who assumed the presidency on July 6, 2025, has governed the court in an "authoritarian" and "dictatorial" manner. The newspaper cited complaints ranging from the unilateral imposition of a judicial dress code to accusations of "panel fixing" and attempts to influence case outcomes. These disclosures have prompted the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC) to announce a "transparent and independent review" of the allegations.

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this has been particularly distressing because the Caribbean Court of Justice is far more than a judicial institution. It is the product of decades of blood, sweat and tears, by Caribbean people who believed that our region was capable of establishing and sustaining its own final court.

The RJLSC acknowledged the seriousness of the matters, emphasizing the need for a review that safeguards public trust in the court and the broader Caribbean justice system. Judicial leaders from Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement affirming the CCJ's "profound importance" as a regional institution. Established on April 16, 2005, the CCJ holds jurisdiction over matters related to the Revised Treaty of Chaguramas, which governs the regional integration movement, underscoring its critical role in the Caribbean's legal and political architecture.

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The commission recognises the seriousness of these matters and the importance of addressing them in a manner that protects public trust and confidence in the court and the broader administration of justice throughout the Caribbean.