Guyana ranks among leading users of CCJ as appellate caseload edges up

March 4 2026

Guyana continued to feature prominently in matters brought before the Caribbean Court of Justice during the 2024–2025 judicial year, according to figures published in the court’s newly released Annual Report for the period August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025.

The data indicate a modest rise in appellate activity, with 27 new cases entering the court’s Appellate Jurisdiction over the year, compared with 26 in the previous reporting cycle.

Civil disputes accounted for the vast majority of filings, making up close to four-fifths of the total, while the remaining matters involved criminal appeals.

Of the 27 new cases, 10 were Applications for Special Leave and 17 were full appeals. This marginal increase reflects steady reliance by regional states on the CCJ as their final court of review.

A breakdown by country shows Belize submitting the highest number of cases with nine filings. Guyana followed closely behind with eight matters, reinforcing its position as one of the court’s most frequent users. Barbados registered five filings, Saint Lucia four, and Dominica one.

The report also provides insight into how the court conducted its work over the year. The CCJ convened on 40 occasions, including 10 case management conferences, 19 hearings, and 11 sessions for the delivery of judgments.

Digital platforms continued to dominate court operations, with more than 92 percent of sittings held virtually, while a limited number were conducted in person or through hybrid formats.

In terms of efficiency, the court maintained strong performance in disposing of cases. Fourteen percent of matters were completed within three months, while 29 percent concluded between three and six months.

Another 43 percent were finalised within nine months, and the remaining 14 percent were resolved within a year. All cases met the court’s benchmark of being concluded within 12 months of filing.

The latest statistics highlight both Guyana’s active engagement with the regional court and the CCJ’s continued emphasis on timely case management and modern, technology-driven judicial operations.

Under its Appellate Jurisdiction, the CCJ serves as the highest court for civil and criminal appeals for five Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, and Saint Lucia.

These countries have formally replaced overseas courts with a regional final appellate body, a move seen as a step toward strengthening judicial independence and regional identity.

Beyond appeals, the CCJ also exercises Original Jurisdiction as an international tribunal responsible for interpreting and enforcing the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established the Caribbean Community and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

Through this role, the court adjudicates disputes involving member states, businesses, and individuals seeking to protect rights and obligations arising under the treaty framework.

The bench of the CCJ is made up of senior jurists from across the region and beyond, led by its President, Justice Winston Anderson. He is joined by Justices Arif Bulkan, Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, Denys Barrow, Peter Jamadar, Chantal Ononaiwu, and Chile Eboe-Osuji.

The CCJ was officially inaugurated on April 16, 2005, to function as the region’s final appellate court, strengthening Caribbean judicial independence and regional integration.