Background and Faculties

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was established on February 14, 2001 by signing the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice with the main function of having a tribunal that could understand the region’s social context. The court’s mission is to provide accessible, fair, and efficient justice to the people and states of the Caribbean Region. The CCJ has the function of being a hybrid institution that consists as a last resort municipal court for individuals and an international court that settles disputes between the states with exclusive jurisdiction, respecting the interpretation of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas signed on July 5, 2001 which established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). With their official inauguration and first audience in 2005, the CCJ is currently presided over by 7 judges including the president of the court. This tribunal is considered as a legitimate specialist for the Caribbean Region that aims to be a model of juridical excellence for the 15 countries of the Caribbean Region.

With the aim of being a fair justice service for the individual and states understanding the social needs and reality of the Caribbean Community, the Caribbean Court of Justice offers solutions to unsolved cases and defines:

• Interprets and applies the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to ensure the economical and market development of the states of the Caribbean Region; 

• Judges both, individuals and states, ensuring the rights of the countries, enterprises and people of the Caribbean nations;

• Allows to contemplate and rule appeals in criminal and civil matters before customary tribunals with jurisdiction in Caribbean States;

• Delivers advisory opinions concerning the application of the treaty at the request of the contracting parties or the community; 

• As it has autonomy, decides its own jurisdiction when there is a dispute about whether the Court has jurisdiction or not in the matter.