PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Thursday set November 6 and 7 as the dates to hear the case of the Trinidad and Tobago-based political analyst, Derek Ramsamooj, challenging the conduct of the State of Suriname following his detention in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in 2020.
Newly appointed CCJ President, Justice Winston Anderson, said the judges were looking forward to seeing all parties “at the seat of the court on the sixth and seventh of November and to try this matter at the time”.
He said that a case management (CMC) was held in January this year, in which the CCJ issued specific orders regarding the filing of documents.
“The timetable has been complied with, we have all of the documents in hand, including…CARICOM (Caribbean Community) is an amicus brief …responding to specific questions raised by the court.
The CCJ President said that the witness statements have also been received, adding that the meeting on Thursday “was to make sure that we have everything arranged for the trial to take place on the sixth and seventh of November, and in particular we wanted to ensure that we have he order in which the witnesses will give their evidence”.
Ramsamooj, 64, who holds both Trinidad and Tobago and British passports, was summarily detained in Paramaribo in October 2020 and was not allowed to leave the country until September 2022. He suffers from a range of medical issues, including diabetes, hypertension, and severe coronary artery disease.
A presiding judge had ordered the authorities in Suriname to return his passports, noting that Ramsamooj had, at all times, demonstrated a willingness to support due process and had consistently stated his desire to clear his name through the legal routes.
The analyst, who has worked in several Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, Guyana, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Kitts and Nevis, was told by Suriname police on October 6, 2020, that they only wanted a statement to support an inquiry into operations at the Surinamese Post Savings Bank (SPSB).
Ramsamooj conducted customer surveys for the SPSB and bank employee surveys, as well as two country risk assessments of Suriname, in his capacity as an analyst and researcher. The financial institution paid for the activities.
The CCJ, established in February 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council, also acts as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of the Chaguaramas, which governs the regional integration movement.
In his application to the CCJ, Ramsamooj is seeking several relief measures, including a declaration that Suriname infringed his right to freedom of movement as well as his right to provide services.
In addition, Ramsamooj wants a declaration that Suriname infringed his right not to be discriminated against on the ground of his nationality, as well as a declaration that Suriname breached its obligations under Article 9 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) that governs the 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM.
The lawyers for the political analyst said that Suriname failed to ensure their client was not subjected to arbitrary imprisonment, denial of counsel, denial of adequate medical attention/or discrimination on the grounds of nationality or the several rights identified in the Charter of Civil Society.
In addition, Ramsamooj is seeking damages and costs.
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