The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is Dead!

The Dead Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

By Professor Gilbert Morris
Nassau, The Bahamas

Who cares whether they have confidence?

This is the problem: public trust means the public must have faith in the courts.  Caribbean leaders have this delusional concept of the power of empty talk.  A poorly organised court that emerged from confusion and now showing its rotting bones and they think they can save their friends on the court by talking about how they have confidence in them.  What was ever made legitimate by their confidence?

The court has failed and we must at last be honest enough to admit we got it wrong: 15 courts no one respects can’t create a respected regional court.  There must be a transparent process which highlights a CARICOM judicial philosophy which the citizens of CARICOM adhere to…and by which they see themselves bound.

Our young people are not prepared to accept the dribbling mumblings of those who seem clueless about the world we are in…who think private endorsements generate public legitimacy.

The court is dead.

Establish a proper court!

PS: it should be the CARICOM Court of Justice.  It does not and can’t represent the entire Caribbean.  It doesn’t even represent all of CARICOM. 

Source / Comment

The Bahamas Attorney General on the arrest of Sam Bankman-Fried

Attorney General of The Bahamas Sen. Ryan Pinder KC Statement on the arrest of Sam Bankman-Fried

On 12 December 2022, the Office of the Attorney General of The Bahamas is announcing the arrest by The Royal Bahamas Police Force of Sam Bankman-Fried (“SBF”), former CEO of FTX.  SBF’s arrest followed receipt of formal notification from the United States that it has filed criminal charges against SBF and is likely to request his extradition.

As a result of the notification received and the material provided therewith, it was deemed appropriate for the Attorney General to seek SBF’s arrest and hold him in custody pursuant to our nation’s Extradition Act.

At such time as a formal request for extradition is made, The Bahamas intends to process it promptly, pursuant to Bahamian law and its treaty obligations with the United States.

Responding to SBF’s arrest, Prime Minister Davis stated, “The Bahamas and the United States have a shared interest in holding accountable all individuals associated with FTX who may have betrayed the public trust and broken the law.  While the United States is pursuing criminal charges against SBF individually, The Bahamas will continue its own regulatory and criminal investigations into the collapse of FTX, with the continued cooperation of its law enforcement and regulatory partners in the United States and elsewhere."
 

December 12, 2022
Office of The Attorney General &
Ministry of Legal Affairs
Commonwealth of The Bahamas