CCJ DELEGATION TO VISIT SURINAME
From 20–24 January 2026, a high-level delegation from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) led by the Honourable Mr Winston Anderson, President of the CCJ (President Anderson), will undertake an official visit to the Republic of Suriname, following an invitation extended by Honourable Mr Justice Iwan Rasoelbaks, President of the Court of Justice of Suriname.
The visit forms an integral part of the Court’s ongoing strategic initiative to engage national judiciaries and members of government as a means of strengthening regional stakeholder engagement in accordance with the CCJ’s Strategic Plan 2025-2032. This visit aligns with the strategic priorities of Access to Justice and Regional Impact, with a focus on expanding access and strengthening regional legal collaboration, as well as Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, and Public Trust, aimed at enhancing transparency, building trust, and deepening regional relationships.
During the visit, President Anderson, the Honourable Mr Justice Jamadar, CCJ Judge, and the Court’s Registrar and Chief Marshal are expected to address members of the Surinamese judiciary, bar association, parliamentarians, and other key stakeholders, including the media at the Congress on the Modernization of the Judiciary on matters related to the Court on 22 January 2026. Their presentations will, among other things, outline the Court’s framework, operability, effectiveness, and overall institutional architecture.
In November 2025, the CCJ concluded the Court’s Referral Training with the Bar Association of Suriname. This training marked the conclusion of a two-year public education campaign executed with financial support from the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund to the Caribbean Court of Justice, focused on enhancing awareness among members of the judicial, legal and business communities regarding the duty of national courts to refer questions concerning the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to the CCJ for determination in its Original Jurisdiction.
As part of those engagements, President Anderson paid courtesy calls on the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Suriname, the President of the Court of Justice, and the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname. A copy of the CCJ Original Jurisdiction Rules 2024, along with the Referral Manual, which have been translated into Dutch, were also presented to the Minister of Justice, symbolising the Court’s continued commitment to deepening collaboration with the Surinamese judiciary and legal community under the Original Jurisdiction of the Court.
The CCJ looks forward to constructive dialogue with its Surinamese counterparts and to contributing to a deeper understanding of the Court’s role in supporting judicial excellence, regional integration, and the rule of law within the Caribbean.