News Releases

UWI Principal Calls for Legal Independence At CCJ Symposium

For Release Upon Receipt - June 17, 2025

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, June 17, 2025 - “The Privy Council is a relic of colonialism, one we need not take with us into our future,” asserted Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St Augustine Campus. She was speaking at the opening of the second Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Symposium, hosted by The UWI on May 16 at The UWI Inn and Conference Centre.

 

 (L–R) Dr Alicia Elias-Roberts, Dean, Faculty of Law; Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, The UWI St. Augustine; The Honourable Chief Justice Mr Ivor Archie, ORTT; The Honourable Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji, Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice; Mrs Lynette Seebaran-Suite SC, President of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT); and The Honourable Mme Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice, attend the opening of the second Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Symposium, hosted by The UWI St. Augustine on May 16 at The UWI Inn and Conference Centre.

Themed “Advancing the Case for Regionalism and Indigenous Jurisprudence,” the symposium was a collaboration with the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the Greek Embassy in Panama. It brought together jurists, legal scholars and students to reflect on the future of Caribbean jurisprudence and the region’s final appellate court. The symposium was attended by several dignitaries and key stakeholders, including The Honourable Chief Justice Ivor Archie, ORTT; The Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr John Jeremie, SC; members of the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean Court of Justice; parliamentarians, diplomats and senior members of The UWI’s leadership.

 

 Mr. Frederick Gilkes, Vice President of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) delivers his presentation during a panel discussion at the second CCJ Symposium, hosted by The UWI St. Augustine on May 16 at The UWI Inn and Conference Centre.

Professor Antoine, former Dean of the Faculty of Law and advocate for Caribbean integration, underscored the importance of embracing the CCJ as a marker of true independence and regional identity.

“The CCJ’s ability and willingness to create an indigenous Caribbean jurisprudence, adapting to our particular local circumstances, genuinely reflecting our social realities without sacrificing appropriate judicial principle, has been a long-cherished goal of legal scholars like myself,” she stated.

 

 Dr. Indira Rampersad, Head, Department of Political Science, Lecturer, Department of Political Science, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus delivers her presentation during a panel discussion at the second CCJ Symposium, hosted by The UWI St. Augustine on May 16 at The UWI Inn and Conference Centre.

She also praised the court’s integrity and independence:

“The arrangements for protecting the independence and integrity of the CCJ are among the finest in the world. In fact, UK jurists themselves have remarked on this.”

 

 The Honourable Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji, Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice, presents his comments at the opening of the second CCJ Symposium, hosted by The UWI St. Augustine on May 16 at The UWI Inn and Conference Centre.

 

Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Alicia Elias-Roberts, also addressed the gathering, noting the critical role legal education plays in transforming regional consciousness around justice.

“This symposium is not just an academic exercise; it is about shaping the legal consciousness of our region and encouraging serious reflection on the systems that serve our people,” she said.

 

 The Honourable Chief Justice Mr Ivor Archie, ORTT, addresses presenters at the opening of the second CCJ Symposium, hosted by The UWI St. Augustine on May 16 at The UWI Inn and Conference Centre.

Reflecting on her own early involvement in CCJ-related work through her role at the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr Elias-Roberts expressed both pride and concern at the slow pace of regional adoption:

“But I must confess, as I stand here today, it is bitter sweet that we are still – in 2025 – 20 years after the establishment of the CCJ, having to debate this issue.” She pointed out that only five CARICOM member states have acceded to the court’s appellate jurisdiction.

Now in its second year, the CCJ Symposium at The UWI continues to encourage dialogue on regionalism, access to justice, and the need for a legal system that truly reflects Caribbean values and sovereignty.

The symposium can be viewed on The UWI St. Augustine YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV0R1Odom1g

 

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 About The University of the West Indies

 The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe, The UWI continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability and development.

 As The UWI St. Augustine Campus celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2025 under the theme Beyond 65: From the Caribbean, For the World, it pays tribute to its Caribbean roots while highlighting its contributions to solving global challenges. This milestone underscores the campus's significant role in producing ground-breaking research and fostering talent that transcends regional boundaries to shape a better world. The UWI St. Augustine’s researchers, academics and graduates continue to make an international impact, exemplifying the university’s mission to serve the region while influencing the world.

  Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

 

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