Attorney downplays report of discord among judges of the CCJ

By Prince Moore

Attorney-at-law Bert Samuels believes an article highlighting an emerging sense of discord among judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice could provide ammunition to critics who argue that the regional court is not working effectively.

The CCJ is based in Trinidad & Tobago.

Trinidad & Tobago's Express newspaper reported that CCJ President Justice Winston Anderson has been accused by a majority of his fellow judges of governing the regional court in an "authoritarian" and "dictatorial" manner.

Mr Samuels, reacting in an interview with Radio Jamaica News, said the information appears to have been leaked and was not intended for public attention.

He contends that it “in every institution, be it the legislature, the executive, or judiciary, there's going to be consent and dissent among members. We see it in parliament. We see people crossing the floor in parliament from one party to the other. It is not uncommon in human affairs that there's going to be discord among its members.”

He said it was unfortunate, however, that “what has come out and has been leaked was never intended to hit the public's ear.”

Samuels is urging the public to await a response from CCJ President Justice Winston  Anderson, who is Jamaican.

“There have been strong presidents in Court of Appeals, even in Jamaica, where the president, and we know this as an undercurrent and something among themselves, have tried to influence the other judges in ways that this particular president is being accused,” he contends. 

He also noted that Justice Anderson’s side of the story is yet to be shared. 

“What we are hearing is emails sent by the judges, and it seemed to have been a civil approach by each of those judges. It was not anyone saying that there was any act of dishonesty. It might be his personality, but I would want to hear from him because I believe in hearing two sides of every story.”

Despite the controversy, Samuels, long known to be a strong advocate of the regional court, said he remained firm in his view that it is “the best solution for justice in the Caribbean, and I remain an adherent to the promotion of the Caribbean Court of Justice and the abolition of the Privy Council at the right time.”