The Bar Association of Guyana is currently hosting its Inaugural Law Week under the theme “Advancing the Rule of Law in the New Normal”.This week of activities which commenced on Sunday 3rd will culminate this evening with the marquee event, the Bar Dinner, at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.As part of these activities, and at the invitation of The Bar Association of Guyana, The Hon. Justice Adrian Saunders, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, arrived in Guyana on Thursday.

Yesterday, His Honour attended and took part in the Symposium on “Paths in the Legal Profession” held by the association at the University of Guyana.His Honour will this evening deliver the Keynote Address - ‘Advancing Caribbean Jurisprudence to Secure Sustainable Growth & Development’ at the Dinner.

While in Guyana, His Honour also took the opportunity, as is the protocol to so do, to pay courtesy calls on His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana; The Hon. Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, OR, CCH, Chancellor (ag.) of the Judiciary of Guyana; Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary General of CARICOM and Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs. It is regrettable that His Honour was unable to likewise so do on the Leader of the Opposition, as there is none, de jure, as noted in the Press Statement of the Caribbean Court of Justice released yesterday 8th April, 2022.

It is the protocol of the Caribbean Court of Justice that the President thereof, visits with the Head of State of member States, when that member State elects a new Head of State.

The Hon. Justice Sir Dennis Byron, then President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, so did in November, 2015 when he visited with then President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, David Granger. (vide Stabroek News edition dated November 24, 2015).

There is therefore nothing peculiar or insidious about the visit of the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice and the protocol adopted as part of his visit. Any such insinuation or allegation is unfounded and mischievous.The Bar Council's attention has been drawn to statements emanating particularly from certain sources on social media which seek to impugn the integrity of His Honour and by extension, the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The Bar Council unreservedly condemns such statements and or insinuations. The integrity of His Honour and the Court is beyond reproach. We have full confidence therein whether decisions have been made for and or against this Government or any other sitting Government.

Dated 9th April, 2022