PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC—The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will hold a special sitting at its headquarters in Port of Spain on Tuesday, March 18, in honor of Justice Andrew Burgess, who is retiring.
Justice Burgess, who joined the CCJ in 2019, made history as the first Barbadian judge appointed to the Court’s Bench. Reflecting on his contributions, CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders praised Justice Burgess’ legal acumen and dedication to nurturing future legal professionals.
“Mr Justice Burgess has been a tremendous addition to the CCJ Bench. His scholarly approach to the law, analytical mind, and vast experience have proven invaluable in the matters on which he has sat,” he said. “Under his stewardship, the Annual CCJ International Law Moot has continued to evolve, ensuring that it remains a premier platform for developing the advocacy skills of law students in the Caribbean. Throughout his long and distinguished career, he has consistently demonstrated dedication to nurturing the next generation of legal minds, an enduring testament to his commitment to the law and justice in the region.”
The full Bench of the CCJ, along with Trinidad and Tobago’s Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Chief Justice of Barbados Leslie Haynes, will preside over the day’s proceedings.
Justice Burgess was previously the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill campus and a Professor of Corporate and Commercial Law.
He also had a distinguished career internationally as a judge of the Inter-American Development Bank’s Administrative Tribunal in Washington, DC. Justice Burgess was the body’s Vice-President in 2007 and 2009 and served as President from 2009-2010.
He was also a World Bank Administrative Tribunal judge from 2013 to 2024. In 2017, his fellow Judges elected him as Vice President of the tribunal. He was a Senior Commonwealth Fellow at Oxford University, England, between 1992 and 1993.
Justice Burgess is also an author, having published Commonwealth Caribbean Company Law in 2013 and The Law of Corporate Receivers and Receiver-Managers in 2002, in addition to being published on legal issues, especially in corporate and commercial jurisprudence.
He has also served as a Senator in the Senate of The UWI, the university’s governing body, and as a Councillor in the Council of The UWI, the academic authority that oversees all of its academic matters. Justice Burgess was also a member of the Barbados Judicial Council, a member of the Tax Appeal Tribunal in Barbados, and a Chairman of several national and regional committees. At the CCJ, he serves as Chair of the Annual CCJ International Law Moot Committee.
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