History and Jurisdiction of the Court

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  • 1901

    Jamaican Gleaner editorial

    Jamaican Gleaner editorial

    January 1, 1901

    The idea of a final Caribbean court has been long in the making. It is said that as far back as 1901, an editorial in the Jamaican Gleaner called for an indigenous Caribbean final appeal court.

  • 1947

    Meeting of West Indian Governors

    Meeting of West Indian Governors

    January 1, 1947

    In 1947, a Meeting of West Indian Governors echoed these calls, arguing that the region needed a  court that better understood its social realities.

  • 1970

    Resolution to establish a final Caribbean appellate court

    Resolution to establish a final Caribbean appellate court

    January 1, 1970

    In 1970, at the Sixth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, a Resolution to establish a final appellate court for the Caribbean was tabled. A press release from the Meeting stated “The Conference discussed the idea for the establishment of a Regional Court of Appeal. A general but not unanimous view was expressed that it was desirable that Commonwealth Caribbean countries should move towards the termination of appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.”

  • 1989

    Agreement to establish a “Caribbean Court of Appeal’

    Agreement to establish a “Caribbean Court of Appeal’

    January 1, 1989

    In 1989, at the Eighth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, the Heads of Government agreed in principle to establish a ‘Caribbean Court of Appeal’ following a proposal by Trinidad and Tobago.

  • 1992

    Time for Action Report

    Time for Action Report

    December 1, 1992

    In 1992, the West Indian Commission chaired by Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth presented its Time for Action Report which made a very compelling case for a regional final court. The Report identified the need for such a court within the process of regional integration itself, noting that “the case for the CARICOM Supreme Court, with both a general appellate jurisdiction and an original regional one, is now overwhelming- indeed it is fundamental to the process of integration itself.

  • 1999

    Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice approved

    Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice approved

    December 1, 1999

    By 1999, Heads of Government of CARICOM approved the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice and Trinidad and Tobago announced plans to house the Court in Port of Spain.

  • 2001

    Signing of the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice

    Signing of the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice

    January 1, 2001

    On 14 February 2001, the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice was signed by 10 CARICOM Member States: Antigua & Barbuda; Barbados; Belize; Grenada; Guyana; Jamaica; St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Lucia; Suriname; and Trinidad & Tobago. Two years later, on 15 February 2003, Dominica and St. Vincent & The Grenadines, signed the agreement, bringing the total number of signatories to 12.

  • 2003

    First meeting of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission

    First meeting of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission

    August 21, 2003

    Between 21-22 August 2003, the first meeting of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC) was held.

  • 2004

    First CCJ President sworn-in

    First CCJ President sworn-in

    August 18, 2004

    On 18 August 2004, the Right Honourable Mr Justice Michael de la Bastide was sworn in as the first President of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

  • 2005

    Inauguration of the CCJ

    Inauguration of the CCJ

    April 16, 2005

    On 16 April 2005, the Caribbean Court of Justice was officially inaugurated in a ceremony at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

  • 2005

    First appeal filed at the Court

    First appeal filed at the Court

    August 19, 2005

    On 19 August 2005, the first appeal was filed at the Court.