CCJ remembers UG Law Department Head as firm believer in integration

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is mourning the death of Mr. Sheldon McDonald, Head of the Department of Law of the University of Guyana and member of the Preparatory Committee which contributed to the development of the CCJ.

Sir Denis Byron, President of the CCJ, said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that McDonald was a “firm believer in Caribbean integration and played a pivotal role in the genesis of the Court”.

McDonald died on Wednesday, days after he was involved in a traffic accident.

Please see below the full statement by the President of the CCJ:

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) notes with sadness the passing of Mr. Sheldon McDonald, Head of the Department of Law, University of Guyana. Mr. McDonald was a firm believer in Caribbean integration and played a pivotal role in the genesis of the Court as a member of the CARICOM Preparatory Committee, whichcontributed to the development of the CCJ and Caribbean jurisprudence.

The Court wishes to profess its deep conviction that Mr. McDonald’s integral and sterling contribution to its creation is now, and will permanently be, incontrovertible evidence of his unwavering faith in and unstinting contribution to Caribbean integration, jurisprudence and development.

Weeks before his passing, Mr. McDonald had contributed a chapter to a publication being developed to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Court.

The Caribbean Court of Justice mourns the loss of a true Caribbean man and I express my personal condolences to his family, colleagues and legions of friends throughout the region. The path he blazed with such dedication and assiduity will be forever testimony to his commitment to regional social transformation.[su_box title=”The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)” style=”soft” box_color=”#54c0f0″]The CCJ was inaugurated on 16 April, 2005 in Trinidad and Tobago where it is headquartered. Its central role is providing legal certainty to the operations of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). It is structured to have two jurisdictions – an original and an appellate. In its original jurisdiction it ensures uniform interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, thereby underpinning and advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. As the final court of appeal for Member States of the Caribbean Community it fosters the development of an indigenous Caribbean jurisprudence[/su_box]