Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 28 March 2026 -- On Friday, 27 March 2026, witnessed by CCJ President and Judges, regional jurists, members of the diplomatic corps, and academia, the Anton de Kom University of Suriname emerged victorious at the 16th Annual Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) International Law Moot. This marked the institution’s first-ever overall victory in the competition. The same University also secured the title of Best Academic Institution, only having previously earned this distinction in 2022. Second place went to The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Cave Hill, last year’s champions.
The Annual CCJ International Law Moot is a yearly event aimed at affording aspiring legal practitioners from across the Caribbean the opportunity to present arguments before a panel of CCJ Judges in the Court’s Original Jurisdiction. Commended by the presiding CCJ Judges for their skilful advocacy, the winning team comprised students Deldritha Afie, Rashly Resida, and Reshaya Ramadhin. The team from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname was guided by team advisor, Mrs Shaiesta Nabibaks and technical advisor Ms Nailah van Dijk.
Among other individual awardees, Ms Lindxee Collins of The UWI, Cave Hill, was awarded the Sir Henry Forde Prize for Best Oralist. The UWI, Cave Hill also secured the Mr Justice Jacob Wit Prize for the Best Written Submission. The Eugene Dupuch Law School came in third at the competition.
Delivering remarks at the Opening Ceremony, the President of the CCJ, the Honourable Mr Justice Winston Anderson, underscored the importance of the Law Moot in advancing the Court’s regional mandate. He noted that,
‘As the only court vested with jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty, it is important that the Court uses the Moot as an opportunity to raise awareness about the Treaty and the workings of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. We must also continue to build awareness of the CCJ’s judgments, which have interpreted, applied, and expounded on Member States’ obligations and the correlative rights afforded to Community nationals under the Treaty. For students, while some may already be exposed to the Court’s jurisprudence and Community law during their studies, the Law Moot provides a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Revised Treaty and its provisions and, importantly, to apply those provisions and related case law to a practical fact pattern.’
The President further highlighted that the initiative aligns with the Court’s Strategic Plan 2025–2032, particularly its focus on enhancing stakeholder awareness and fostering deeper engagement with academic and professional institutions.
Speaking at the Closing Ceremony, the Honourable Mme Justice Rajnauth-Lee, CCJ Judge and Chair of the CCJ Law Moot Committee, stated that ‘In hosting it, we signal our investment in you, the future legal practitioners of the region.’
This year’s competition featured commendable performances by nine teams from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname; the Eugene Dupuch Law School, based in The Bahamas; FHR Institute of Higher Education in Suriname; the Hugh Wooding Law School from Trinidad and Tobago; Norman Manley Law School based in Jamaica; The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill in Barbados; The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica; The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; and the University of Guyana.
Participants were required to argue a case centred on the right of skilled nationals to move freely within CARICOM, addressing related issues such as the right to reside, work, and access education in a host State.
The moot sessions were adjudicated by a panel comprising the Honourable Mr Justice Peter Jamadar, the Honourable Mme Justice Chantal Ononaiwu, who served as Moot Panel Chair, and the Honourable Mr Justice Arif Bulkan.
In an added element to this year’s competition, researcher Dr Grigory Gorbun, an American Bar Foundation/AccessLex Institute Postdoctoral Fellow in Legal and Higher Education, visited the CCJ to observe and conduct research the Law Moot. Dr Gorbun examines law moots around the world as institutional sites where students learn about the rule of law and develop their professional identity and intends to produce a book on the subject.
Members of the public can view the recordings of this year’s competition and the award ceremony on the CCJ’s YouTube channel here.
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