- Historic Sittings: The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will hold its first-ever itinerant sittings in Saint Lucia on 7 and 8 October to mark the opening of the 2026/2027 Judicial Year.
- Regional Accessibility: The travelling court aims to bring justice closer to Caribbean citizens while reducing travel costs for attorneys and litigants.
- Packed Agenda: The full seven-member bench will hear three matters originating from Saint Lucia, Guyana, and Belize, and deliver two judgments.
- High-Level Meetings: CCJ officials will pay courtesy calls on Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Acting Governor-General, and other key state figures during their visit.
- Public Viewing: Citizens across the region are invited to watch the historic proceedings via livestream on the CCJ’s website and social media platforms.
For the first time in its 21-year history, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will convene itinerant sittings in Saint Lucia next week to commemorate the opening of the 2026/2027 Judicial Year.
The landmark sittings are scheduled to take place from Tuesday, 7 October, to Wednesday, 8 October 2026.
The move highlights Saint Lucia’s growing integration with the regional court, following the nation’s decision in 2023 to become the fifth Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member State to accede to the CCJ’s Appellate Jurisdiction. Previously, the court’s travelling sittings have been hosted in Barbados, Belize, Guyana, and Jamaica.
The itinerant nature of the CCJ allows the court to sit and conduct proceedings in any country that is a party to the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice.
According to the CCJ, holding sittings throughout the region aligns with its mission of providing accessible, efficient, and substantive justice. The travelling court brings proceedings closer to the people it serves, allowing citizens to see the judicial process at work while significantly reducing travel costs for attorneys and litigants.
CCJ President Justice Winston Anderson said that itinerant sittings enable the public to connect directly with the judiciary.
“The people of the region to see us, interact with us, and realise that we are in fact their kith and kin, and part and parcel of the fabric of their society,” Anderson said.
During the visit to Saint Lucia, the full, seven-member CCJ Bench will have a busy docket. The court is scheduled to hear three matters originating from Saint Lucia, Guyana, and Belize. Additionally, the bench will deliver judgments in two matters stemming from Belize.
Outside of the courtroom, the CCJ delegation will engage in a series of diplomatic and state meetings. The court will pay courtesy calls on Acting Governor-General Felix Finisterre; Prime Minister Philip J Pierre; Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Margaret Price Findlay; Attorney General Vincent Mondesir; and Leader of the Opposition Allen Chastanet.
Members of the public who wish to witness the historic sittings are invited to view the livestream on the CCJ’s website, social media channels, and YouTube pages. Detailed schedules of the matters to be heard are available under the Judgments and Proceedings portal at www.ccj.org
