(Barbados Nation) It’s anticipated that all eyes will be on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) today as judges turn their attention to the high-profile Shanique Myrie case.
The turnout at the Barbados Supreme Court and viewers of the CCJ live streaming are expected to be higher than the first two days of the court’s sitting, but CCJ president Sir Dennis Byron said yesterday he expected “the usual standard of decorum”.
At today’s preliminary procedural hearing, the justices will hear an application for leave to grant Myrie permission to have her case heard by the CCJ.
The 24-year-old Jamaican has alleged she was finger raped by a female Immigration officer, insulted, and then denied entry to Barbados on March 14.
Sir Dennis said he could not anticipate whether a decision would be made by the end of the sitting today.
“The court would like to act as promptly as it can but obviously can make no undertaking until it has heard the parties in the matter,” he said in response to questions from the DAILY NATION.
Myrie, who arrived in Barbados on Monday evening, is represented by Jamaican attorneys Michelle Brown and Mark Ramsay while the Barbados Government’s defence team is led by Roger Forde, QC.
Hers is the third of four matters which the CCJ is hearing this week.
Yesterday, Sir Dennis and Justices Jacob Wit, Winston Anderson, Desiree Bernard and Adrian Saunders heard the appeal of the Guyana Furniture Manufacturing Ltd vs Robert Ramcharran and the National Bank of Industry and Commerce. That was preceded on Monday by Marjorie Ilma Knox vs John Deane et al., popularly known as the Kingsland Case.
The final matter tomorrow will be Mayan King Ltd vs Jose Luis Reyes et al.
This is the first-time the CCJ is sitting outside its Trinidad and Tobago headquarters and Sir Dennis said he was satisfied with the provisions at the Barbados court.
“The accommodation provided and the processes encountered are of very high quality and we would like to express appreciation to the Chief Justice, the Registrar and their support staff for facilities provided and the courtesies extended to the court,” he said.