12 Caribbean Countries Join the UIHJ during the UIHJ Permanent Council of November 2014
The UIHJ now has 85 member countries since the signing on 27 November 2014 of a Cooperation agreement with the Caribbean Court of Justice during the permanent council of the UIHJ in Paris.
Signature of the Cooperation agreement between the UIHJ and the Caribbean Court of Justice: Sue Collins, member of the board of the UIHJ, Sir Dennis Byron, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Leo Netten President of the UIHJ
The UIHJ invited Sir Dennis Byron, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to attend its permanent Council on 27 and 28 November 2014 in Paris and to sign a Cooperation Agreement between the two organisations.
The CCJ represents twelve Caribbean States:
Antigua and Barbuda
Barbados
Belize
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
During the Permanent Council, Sue Collins (USA), member of the board of the UIHJ evoked the patient work she has done in previous years, especially with Luis Ortega Alcubierre (Spain), member of the board of the UIHJ, to develop contacts with the countries of the Caribbean. This work eventually paid off as it allowed since 2011 to establish relations with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and its President, Sir Dennis Byron.
In response, Sir Dennis said he was delighted to be present at the permanent council of the UIHJ. He said the CCJ (http://www.caribbeancourtofjustice.org/ ) was founded ten years ago by twelve Caribbean States: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago The role of the CCJ is to protect and promote the rule of law as a court of final appeal and as guardian of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas by guaranteeing accessibility, fairness, efficiency and transparency, delivering clear and just decisions in a timely manner. The CCJ has also set a target to work with the courts of the Member States to improve the quality of justice. In this context, one of the critical elements is the service of documents and the enforcement of court decisions. "This is why, said Dennis Byron, we appreciate the work of the UIHJ." He said he was pleased with this new collaboration that will bring the states of the CCJ in the UIHJ.
Immediately after this statement, the cooperation agreement was signed between the UIHJ, represented by its President, Leo Netten, and the CCJ, represented by its President, Sir Dennis Byron. With the arrival of these twelve states the UIHJ now includes 85 member countries.
