Guyana’s opposition leader says CCJ allegations touch his own extradition case
Azruddin Mohamed said five of the court’s six sitting judges had challenged President Winston Anderson, as both main parties raised concerns about the regional court.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana. Guyana’s two main political parties have raised concerns about the administration of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), with one calling for court President Justice Winston Anderson to resign.
The calls follow reports alleging authoritarian management at the court, including claims of imposing rules, “panel fixing” and attempts to influence case outcomes.
Opposition leader speaks
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed said he was disturbed by the allegations and claimed there had been attempts to influence decisions in his own extradition case.
“The significance of these revelations cannot be overstated,” he said. “According to the published internal correspondence, five of the CCJ’s six sitting judges challenged the leadership of CCJ president Justice Winston Anderson.”
He said the allegations should not be dismissed as political criticism, since they reportedly came from judges within the court and concerned the independence of the Caribbean’s highest appellate court.
“The CCJ is Guyana’s final appellate court. Public confidence in that institution depends fundamentally upon the independence of every judge, the integrity of judicial deliberations and the absolute assurance that no judge, regardless of position or seniority, can improperly influence the judicial opinions of another,” Mohamed said.
He added that the “gravity is even greater because these allegations touch proceedings involving Guyana’s sitting Leader of the Opposition and an extradition process that has generated significant political controversy in Guyana”.
