University of Guyana participates in Caribbean Court mooting competition

Last Updated on Friday, 13 March 2015, 18:29 by GxMedia

The University of Guyana (UG) is being represented by a three-man mooting team during the 2015 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Mooting Competition which commenced Thursday.

The UG team, made up of Second-year Student-at-Law Raeanna Clarke, as its Senior Counsel and third-year Students-at-Law Nichalous Carryl and Sarika Gajrajits Junior Counsel and Researcher respectively, was slated to make its submission Friday.

“I feel confident because I know the level preparationthat we have done. I know the research that we have done…looking at the skeletal agreement of the other team it’s easy to boost your confidence in what you’re going forward with,” explained a measurably confident Clarke as the team wrapped up a practice session on Tuesday.

Though she pointed out that her team’s submissions are “based on solid arguments,” but more importantly, “based on the law,” she conceded that one of her concerns is “staying grounded and not being shaken when presented with questions.”

Gajraj expressed excitement at the opportunity availed to her team to be able “to see the CCJ, how it works and meet the judges.”

Asked her feelings on her team’s chances she said “we did a lot of research, we have a very strong argument…and I think that we have a very good chance of winning.” We have been getting assistance from Justice (Duke) Pollard, who is a former judge of the CCJ, and Mr. (Sheldon) McDonald, who is well respected in the Caribbean for his work.”

Pollard serves as a professor at UG while McDonald lectures, in addition to serving as Head of the Law Department.

Continuing, Gajraj said, “we work well together…we have hiccups along the way but we were able to iron those issues out.”

During the practice session on Tuesday Carryl noted that a massive amount of time and effort went into preparing the team’s submission, and, from all indications, he seemed extremely confident on the team’s chances of doing well.

The competition “was established in 2009 to provide future law practitioners with the opportunity to further develop their research and advocacy skills in a real court setting.

“It also aims to build greater awareness of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) which governs the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME). The CCJ is the only Court with the authority to interpret the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, a responsibility referred to as the Court’s Original Jurisdiction,” a release from the CCJ said.

“This year’s competition focuses on the timely issues of the enforcement of judgments by the CCJ in its Original Jurisdiction as well as referrals by national courts over questions concerning the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas,” the release continues.