CCJ receives first-ever national court referral, sets hearing for May 2026

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) convened a case management conference on 7 April 2026, in connection with the first referral it has received from a national court. The referral originated from the High Court of Belize, which, on 3 March 2026, submitted a question in the matter of G. Anwar Barrow and others v Financial Services Commission and the Attorney General of Belize.

A release from CCJ explained that the issue referred to the CCJ relates to how certain statutory provisions in Belize’s Companies Act should be interpreted, as well as how they interact with rules prohibiting anti-competitive business practices under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC).

According to the release, in its Original Jurisdiction, the CCJ exercises compulsory and exclusive authority to resolve disputes involving the interpretation and application of the RTC. When such questions arise in proceedings before domestic courts or tribunals, those bodies are required under the treaty to refer the matter to the CCJ for a definitive interpretation. After the CCJ provides its ruling, the case returns to the referring court or tribunal, which then applies that interpretation to the facts before it and proceeds to judgment.

Prior to 2026, no national court had made a referral to the CCJ under this mechanism, reports CCJ. In response, the Court initiated a regional public education effort aimed at increasing awareness of the referral process among judicial officers and legal practitioners within the Caribbean Community. This initiative was supported by funding from the European Development Fund and included outreach and training activities for judges, attorneys, and representatives of the private sector.

Beginning in Belize in 2022, the programme expanded to include sessions in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. In parallel, the CCJ engaged with business communities to promote understanding of the rights and obligations established under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

During the recent case management conference, the Court issued procedural directions to guide the progress of the matter.

As per the release, the hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, 19 May 2026, at 11:00 a.m. AST and will take place via video conference.