Get the Facts – The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was established in 2005. It is located in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

The CCJ is the final Court of Appeal on civil and criminal matters for four CARICOM Members States, namely Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Guyana. Jamaica and other CARICOM countries are taking steps toward making the CCJ their final appellate court. In 2015, the House of Representatives voted for Jamaica to institute the CCJ as its final appellate court.

The Court also settles disputes between CARICOM Member States concerning the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (the agreement that established the Caribbean Community and Common Market).

The CCJ is currently presided over by seven judges, including the President of the Court. These judges are qualified legal practitioners from the Caribbean Region and the Commonwealth.

The expenses of the Court are covered by a trust fund made up of contributions from CARICOM Member States, through loans from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The fund is managed by a Board of Trustees from various regional entities. These trustees include the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the President of the Insurance Association of the Caribbean.

For additional information, visit www.caricom.org