On Feb. 20, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), continued its Referral Workshop Series and sensitization sessions on the CCJ’s Original Jurisdiction with the Saint Lucia Judiciary, Bar Association, and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (CCIA).

Saint Lucia’s judges, registrars, magistrates, attorneys, and business community members gathered at the Palmville Conference Centre, Coco Palm Hotel and the Bay Gardens Beach Resort in multiple sessions to deepen their understanding of the referral obligations of local courts and the Court’s Original Jurisdiction. 

The sessions were facilitated by Mr Justice Peter Jamadar, CCJ Judge; Dr Jan Yves Remy, Director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy, and Services at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus; Suraj Sakal, CCJ Judicial Counsel; Ria Mohammed-Pollard, CCJ Communications and Information Manager; and John Furlonge, Project Coordinator, 11th EDF Support to the CCJ.

Through simulation exercises, step-by-step guides, and group exercises, participants were able to identify when a question concerning the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas arises in domestic proceedings, assess whether a referral should be made to the CCJ, formulate the question(s) to be referred together with the ancillary information to be supplied to the CCJ, oversee/supervise the process of making the referral utilising the office of the Registrar, and apply the ruling of the CCJ to resolve the disputes. They were also able to understand the process for accessing the Original Jurisdiction of the Court and the value that this Jurisdiction brings to the local and regional business communities. 

Throughout this year, the workshop series will continue in other CARICOM Member States.