The CCJ Academy for Law successfully hosted its 8th Biennial Conference from 26–28 November 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad under the theme “The CCJ at 20: Reflections on Caribbean Jurisprudence”. Attracting over 400 judicial officers, legislators, legal practitioners, academics, law students and other civil society stakeholders from across the region, this year’s event was the largest Conference ever hosted by the Academy. Participants engaged in discussions on the evolution, impact, and future of Caribbean jurisprudence.
Declaring the Conference open, the Honourable Mr Justice Winston Anderson, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and Chair of the CCJ Academy for Law, reflected on the significance of the moment. He remarked that ‘The Conference theme invites us to reflect on the strides made, the progress achieved, and the paradigm shifts inspired by the region’s apex court, as well as on the promises and potential for the future. As the educational arm of the Court, the CCJ Academy considered it fitting to bring down the curtain on this year’s anniversary celebrations by presenting the opportunity to examine the Court’s landmark judgments and the impact that the Court has had on the Caribbean legal landscape and the administration of justice.’ Additionally, President Anderson paid tribute to the late Mr Justice Wit, former Judge of the CCJ, describing him as an integral member of the Academy whose scholarship and vision helped shape modern Caribbean jurisprudence.
Also delivering remarks at the Opening Ceremony, Ms Lisa Shoman, SC, General Counsel, CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Secretariat, emphasised the regional importance of forging a distinct Caribbean jurisprudence. She stated that political independence compelled Caribbean legal practitioners to ‘ensure that we work to shape our own legal landscape, to forge a Caribbean jurisprudence that is a true reflection of our own unique culture, our particular social and economic realities, and that girds and supports our integration process as the Caribbean Community.’
During the Opening Ceremony, regional and international development partners also reaffirmed their support for strengthening justice institutions throughout the Caribbean. Her Excellency Cécile Tassin, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted the EU’s enduring partnership with the Court, noting that ‘since 2010, the European Union has been honoured to support the CCJ in its mission to advance access to justice and judicial excellence in the Caribbean. The EU strongly believes that supporting justice institutions in our partner regions is essential for democratic governance, the protection of human rights, gender equality, citizen security, and sustainable socio-economic development. Effective and accessible justice systems serve as the foundation upon which inclusive and resilient societies are built.’
Mr Anton Edmunds, General Manager of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Caribbean Country Department, observed that the Court’s 20th Anniversary is ‘more than a reflection on the CCJ’s institutional journey, it is a reflection on how far we have come as a region in defining our own narrative of justice… The Court’s legacy has been built not only on its rulings, but on its unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and accessibility – values that align squarely with the IDB’s vision of sustainable and inclusive development.’
Commending the CCJ and the Academy for their leadership in strengthening the rule of law in the region, Dr Isaac Solomon, Vice-President (Operations) of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), opined, ‘CDB salutes the CCJ and the Academy for their contributions on rule of law; access to justice, including by the poor; and regional integration.’ He also encouraged attendees to ‘work together toward a justice ecosystem that is more deeply integrated, technologically-enabled, people-centred, and capable of supporting the ambitious development agenda of a dynamic Caribbean Community.’
The opening ceremony also featured the launch of the publication “Caribbean Court of Justice: Striving for Excellence – 20 Years of Evolving Justice”: a commemorative book featuring summaries of CCJ decisions and scholarly contributions from leading jurists and legal practitioners across the region.
The Conference marked an important leadership transition within the CCJ Academy for Law. The Honourable Mme Justice Ononaiwu, CCJ Judge, was named the new Chair of the Academy, while the Honourable Mme Justice Mira Dean-Armorer, Justice of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago, was appointed Deputy Chair. Their appointments were warmly received by participants, who recognised the critical role of the Academy in advancing judicial education and legal development across the region.
A significant outcome of the Conference was the adoption of the forward-looking Port of Spain Declaration on the Development of Caribbean Jurisprudence. Participants called for targeted convergence of legislation in appropriate areas while respecting the diversity of legal systems in the region. They advocated for the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms in our constitutions, encouraged review of the continued relevance of savings law clauses in Commonwealth Caribbean constitutions and stressed the importance of enhanced public education on constitutional matters. Participants also reaffirmed their commitment to the continued implementation of the Needham’s Point Declaration on Criminal Justice Reform and welcomed the development of a digital dashboard to monitor progress on implementation across the region.
Participants recognised the importance of judicial sensitivity to the evolving needs and realities of families in the Caribbean and encouraged modernisation of estate and probate practice. They highlighted the importance of environmental justice and the appropriate recognition and protection of intellectual property rights to sustainable development. Participants affirmed the relevance of international legal obligations to the interpretation and application of domestic law. They advocated for greater awareness and enforcement of the rights of CARICOM nationals under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
The Port of Spain Declaration encourages the ethical use of technology within the judicial landscape as well as culturally grounded technological innovation to enhance access to justice. The Declaration acknowledges the important role of stakeholders other than the judiciary, in particular, legislatures, CARICOM, academia and the media, in the development of Caribbean jurisprudence. The Port of Spain Declaration will be published on the CCJ Academy for Law’s website, www.ccj.org.