(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) Judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will forge ahead to complete the crafting of rules to engage and govern the Court's proceedings after its grand inauguration on 16 April 2005 in Trinidad and Tobago.
At a press conference in the twin-Island republic on the eve of the inauguration, President of the CCJ, Hon. Mr Justice Michael de la Bastide heralded the inaugural event as the celebration of the birth of a Regional institution whose gestation spans over three decades.
In response to media queries on a likely date for the Court to commence hearings, the CCJ President said this hinges on the judges' completion of Rules of the Court to enable its functioning in the Original and Appellate Jurisdictions. He noted too that the establishment of sub-registries in CARICOM Member States is another crucial undertaking, which must precede court hearings.
Acknowledging that Guyana and Barbados are the only CARICOM countries that have so far enacted legislation to use the CCJ as their court of last resort, the CCJ President expressed confidence that the remaining Member States will eventually follow suit.
The media were also informed that the CCJ would soon move to acquire library supplies and other material necessary to facilitate the effective functioning of the Court and of the Caribbean Development Bank's release of the US$100M to the Board of Trustees to finance the operation of the Court.
The inauguration of the CCJ will take place with much pomp and ceremony with an interfaith and formal ceremony from 9:30 am- 12:30 pm. The Inaugural Gala at 7:30 PM will climax the event. The former will be broadcast live across the Region via the Caribbean Media Corporation's (CMC) satellite facility.
Heads of Government and Heads of State of the Caribbean Community, as well as representatives from the Judiciary, Opposition Leaders and other dignitaries will be present for the inauguration events.
