The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was notably absent from the 57th Meeting of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) being held in Guyana, although the regional court is routinely invited to participate as an observer.
CLE Chairman Liesel Weekes yesterday confirmed that the CCJ was invited to this year’s meeting but was unable to attend and did not send a delegate.
“The CCJ is always invited. The CCJ was not able to attend,” Weekes said, explaining that the court has been invited to all CLE Council meetings as an observer since its establishment in 2006.
Speaking to Kiskadee Watch on the sidelines of the sod-turning ceremony for a new law school at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, she said the court’s President, who would normally represent the CCJ at the meetings, was unable to attend this year and no other delegation was sent in his place.
“Unfortunately, this year… the president who usually represents the court was unable to attend. No delegates were sent and unfortunately we don’t have them in attendance. I have no idea why that is,” Weekes shared.
The CCJ has been battling internal difficulties recently, raising questions about whether the court’s non-participation could signal any strain in its relationship with the CLE. However, Weekes rejected any suggestion of a breakdown in relations between the two regional institutions.
Asked directly whether the internal crisis at the CCJ had affected the relationship between the court and the CLE, Weekes responded: “Absolutely none that I could think of.”
She said she was not in a position to speculate on the reasons for the CCJ’s absence, noting that she did not have the full details or context surrounding the court’s decision not to send a representative. “But I can tell you that there has been no fracture between the CCJ and the CLE,” Weekes said.
The CLE meeting is being held in Guyana from September 3 to 5 and brings together representatives involved in legal education across the Caribbean.
The regional court has been grappling with its most serious internal controversy in years, following the publication of leaked correspondence in August which exposed deep disagreements between its President, Justice Winston Anderson and five of the court’s six other sitting judges.
The dispute has included allegations of unilateral decision-making, interference in judicial matters, manipulation of panels and a toxic working environment, all of which Justice Anderson has denied.
The controversy has prompted calls for an independent investigation, while the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission has said it will conduct a transparent review.
Justice Anderson has also faced scrutiny in Guyana over his reported engagement with then Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton on the substantive appointments of the country’s Chancellor and Chief Justice.
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