Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Caribbean court system established under the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is a higher court for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS),[1] including six independent states: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and three British Overseas Territories (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat). It has unlimited jurisdiction in each member State.

History change

The ECSC was set up in 1967 by the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court Order No. 223 of 1967. In Grenada, the Court is called "the Supreme Court of Grenada and the West Indies Associated States". See section 105 of the Grenada Constitution.

Functions change

The functions of the ECSC are as follows:

  • To interpret and apply the laws of the various member states of the OECS;
  • To decide cases of both civil and criminal matters;
  • To hear appeals.

Composition change

Name State Position Elected
Brian George Keith Alleyne   Dominica Chief Justice 2003
Denys Arthur Barrow   Belize Justice of Appeal 2005
Hugh Anthony Rawlins   Saint Kitts and Nevis Justice of Appeal 2005
Ola Mae Edwards   Jamaica Justice of Appeal 2007
Esbon Anthony Ross   Saint Kitts and Nevis Managing Judge 2006
Janice Mesadis George-Creque   British Virgin Islands High Court Judge 2003
David Courtenay Harris   Dominica High Court Judge 2007
Indra Hariprashad-Charles   British Virgin Islands High Court Judge 2000
Rita Joseph-Olivetti   British Virgin Islands High Court Judge 2001
Janice Mesadis George-Creque   British Virgin Islands High Court Judge 2003
Davidson Baptiste   Dominica High Court Judge 2001
Claire Henry   Grenada High Court Judge 2001
Francis Mortimer Cumberbatch   Grenada High Court Judge 2007
Janice Mesadis George-Creque   Montserrat High Court Judge 2003
Francis Belle   Saint Kitts and Nevis High Court Judge 2003
Ianthea Leigertwood-Octave   Saint Kitts and Nevis High Court Judge 2005
Kenneth Andrew Charles Benjamin   Saint Lucia High Court Judge 1993
Sandra Prunella Mason   Saint Lucia High Court Judge 2005
Brian Cottle   Saint Lucia High Court Judge 2007
Frederick Victor Bruce-Lyle   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines High Court Judge 2000
Gertel Thom   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines High Court Judge 2005
Cheryl Mathurin   United Kingdom High Court Judge 2013
Pearletta Lanns   Saint Kitts and Nevis Master 2007

Location change

The Headquarters of the ECSC is in the Heraldine Rock Building, Waterfront, Castries, Saint Lucia. The building houses the Justices of Appeal’s chambers, the Court of Appeal Registry, the Judicial Education Institute, Library, and the Administrative Services.

Also, there are Court Offices in the nine Member States, which house the chambers of the High Court Judges and the offices of the High Court Registry. Each High Court Registry is headed by a legally trained Registrar to give administrative and legal support for the working of the High Court.

Related pages change

References change

  1. Hatchard, John, ed. (2003). Directory of Commonwealth Law Schools. Cavendish Publishing. p. 122. ISBN 1859417582.

Other websites change