Regional Judicial Services Commission has no power to “review” CCJ president’s actions

Last Updated on Sunday, 16 August 2026, 20:49 by Writer

The Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC) does not have any legal power to review allegations made against the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Justice Winston Anderson, contrary to that body’s announcement that it would do so, according to a top Guyanese lawyer.

Nothing in the functions (of the RJLSC) gives jurisdiction to the RJLSC to investigate the President of the Court, “review” his conduct, or “review” the issues arising from the leaked emails which concern the internal functioning of the court,” Attorney-at-Law Ralph Ramkarran said in his latest “Conversation Tree” column titled “Rumble In The CCJ”.

If the RJLSC proceeds with its review of Justice’s Anderson’s conduct or his approach to resolving differences, although it has no jurisdiction, Mr Ramkarran said that commission should also “review” whether the regional court had been brought into disrepute as a result of the unauthorised disclosure of the CCJ’s confidential business.

Mr Ramkarran, a former Speaker of Guyana’s National Assembly and a former chairman of the Constitutional Reform Commission in 2000, reasoned that the matters raised by leaked emails, as published in the Trinidad Express newspaper, rest solely with the CCJ President.

Mr Ramkarran said Justice Anderson made his choice by “publicly and fully confronting the allegations head on.”

The senior Guyanese lawyer, with several decades of experience, said if the RJLSC goes ahead with the review, they have the leaked email, which gave a “truncated account” of the actual facts that led to the comments contained in those correspondence.

With Justice Anderson’s statement, the RJLSC has a full account of his perspective of the facts, he said.

Prominent Guyanese lawyer Nigel Hughes last week said investigating and removing the CCJ president is a complex process that cannot be done merely by a review, but by the triggering of a probe by at least three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders.

The establishment agreement provides for at least three CARICOM leaders to represent, jointly, to other regional leaders that the question of removing the CCJ president from office ought to be investigated, then the Heads of Government shall establish a tribunal.

Justice Anderson has been cited by several CCJ judges on the issue of formal dress by judges, engaging Guyana’s President and then Opposition Leader on the substantive appointment of a Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice, and alleged panel fixing of judges to achieve a certain outcome.

In a statement addressing allegations against him, the CCJ president has since expressed regret at engaging the Guyanese political stakeholders, defended his position on courtroom mode of dress and dismissed claims of panel fixing.