Guyana Bar Association condemns leak of internal CCJ correspondence
Key Points(5)
- The Bar Association of Guyana has expressed “grave concern” over the unauthorized disclosure of internal correspondence exchanged among judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), warning that the leak could undermine confidence in the administration of justice.
- In a statement issued Aug.
- 10, the Bar Council said the CCJ, which serves as Guyana’s highest court, must remain a respected and independent institution and that its institutional integrity must be protected.
- The statement followed media reports in Trinidad and Tobago concerning leaked correspondence among CCJ judges.
- The reports included allegations against CCJ President Justice Winston Anderson concerning his management of the court and alleged attempts to influence judicial decisions.
The Bar Association of Guyana has expressed “grave concern” over the unauthorized disclosure of internal correspondence exchanged among judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), warning that the leak could undermine confidence in the administration of justice.
In a statement issued Aug. 10, the Bar Council said the CCJ, which serves as Guyana’s highest court, must remain a respected and independent institution and that its institutional integrity must be protected.
The statement followed media reports in Trinidad and Tobago concerning leaked correspondence among CCJ judges. The reports included allegations against CCJ President Justice Winston Anderson concerning his management of the court and alleged attempts to influence judicial decisions.
The Bar Association did not comment on the substance of those allegations.
“Internal correspondence and deliberations within the Court are, and must remain, confidential,” the Bar Council said. “By itself, the act of disclosing such correspondence — not its content — risks bringing the administration of justice into disrepute.”
The association said judges must be able to engage in robust discussions with one another as part of the judicial decision-making process. It said the unauthorized disclosure of internal correspondence would constitute “a gross breach of confidence and a serious dereliction of duty” by whoever was responsible.
The Bar Council also defended the institutional role of the CCJ president, saying the court’s leader should have sufficient latitude to establish and implement a vision for the institution and principles governing its administration, while remaining subject to the CCJ’s Code of Judicial Conduct.
“The Caribbean Court of Justice must remain a bastion of justice in the Caribbean. Its institutional integrity must therefore be respected, protected and preserved,” the Bar Council said.
The CCJ serves as Guyana’s final appellate court and also has jurisdiction to interpret the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the treaty governing the Caribbean Community and its single market.
The leak has prompted public discussion in Guyana about transparency, judicial independence and the administration of the regional court. Opposition figures have called for greater transparency regarding the issues raised in the leaked correspondence, including allegations concerning the independence of the judiciary and the handling of high-profile cases before the CCJ.
The Bar Association reiterated that it was taking no position on the substance of the matters raised in the leaked correspondence.
