For the first time in its history, the Caribbean Court of Justice held court in Antigua and Barbuda at a special sitting to honour the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Rt. Hon. Sir Dennis Byron.
Representatives from the region came together on May 16, to pay tribute and bid farewell to Sir Dennis.
The President, in his remarks to the gathering, said: “It has been a wonderful experience. Even with all my experiences with judiciaries around the world, sitting side by side with judges from every continent on the bench of an international court, I am extremely proud to have been part of this outstanding court with judges of the highest calibre, work ethic, and integrity. The culmination of a lifelong dream to be part of a final Caribbean court has only been eclipsed by the sheer enjoyment of working in an environment of such high intellect and quality.”
Hon. Mr. Justice Saunders, President-Designate of the CCJ, who also presided over the proceedings, described Sir Dennis as a “great judicial reformer,” recalling that “during the eight years that he spent as Chief Justice of the ECSC, Sir Dennis transformed the institution in critical ways.”
Mr. Justice Stanley Moore, retired judge from Guyana and main speaker at the sitting, hailed Sir Dennis as an innovator, noting that “the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, led by Sir
Dennis, blazed a trail of innovation in the region.”
In addition to his skill in court administration, speakers also lauded the jurist for his judicial work. Hon. Justice Saunders stated that “Sir Dennis’ judgments displayed a first-rate mind and a willingness to go where no judge in the region had gone before.”
Hon. Dame Janice Pereira, Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, said that Sir Dennis “has earned the respect of his colleagues as one of the greatest jurists in the CARICOM region and beyond.”
Sir Dennis will retire in July this year, marking the end of a distinguished legal career that spanned over 53 years.
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