PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Representatives from around the region convened on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) here for a Special Sitting, celebrating the life of one of its earliest sworn-in judges, the late Justice Jacob Wit, who retired from the Court in December 2023 and was buried in a private ceremony on JanuaryJanuary 24açao.
Presided over by the CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, the Special Sitting included remarks by judges, academics, and members of the CCJ staff.
Justice Wit was described by many of his peers as a witty and kind judge who was genuinely concerned about justice, fairness, and humanity.
Justice Saunders reminisced on his friendship with Justice Wit, stating that since they both joined the CCJ in 2005, the years were some of the most joyous “thanks in large measure to Justice Wit’s keen intellect, his curious mind, his generosity of spirit, [and] his collegiality.”
Remarks from their Dennis Byron, former CCJ President, were delivered by the Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago, Justice Ivor Archie, and were similarly affectionate.
He remembered Justice Wit as “a perpetual student, a great intellect, [who] brought a fresh approach to problem-solving and finding just solutions in resolving disputes. He made great contributions to developing our Caribbean jurisprudence, including but not limited to the land law of Guyana.”
In many of the other tributes throughout the event, Justice Wit was lauded for his many contributions to the “multi-layered concept of the rule of law,” particularly in civil law and constitutional interpretation.
He was keenly interested in the granular workings of the judicial system and spent time visiting the prisons in every jurisdiction whenever the Court traveled.
Justice Wit, who retired from the CCJ in December after serving 18 years, died on January 16 in the Netherlands. Justice Wit was an eminent Jurist with broad legal expertise in private law, commercial and admiralty law, insurance, bankruptcy and insolvency, company law and intellectual property, criminal law, military law, administrative law, and constitutional law, as well as international human rights law, the CCJ noted
Before joining the Caribbean Court of Justice, he adjudicated over cases in Curacao, the Netherlands Antilles, and the Dutch Windward Islands of Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
“Justice Wit was a polyglot, with fluency in several languages, and will be remembered for his Wit inside and outside of the courtroom,” the CCJ said on his passing.
President of the CCJ, Justice Adrian Saunders, said it was a sad day for the Court.
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