CCJ President in Guyana for swearing-in of Justice Arif Bulkan

President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson, is in Guyana for an official four-day visit from October 14 to 17, 2025, to participate in a series of engagements, including the swearing-in of Guyanese national, the Honourable Mr. Justice Arif Bulkan, as a Judge of the CCJ.

Justice Bulkan will be formally sworn in on Thursday, October 16, 2025, by His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, during a special ceremony to be held at the Office of the President. The appointment of Justice Bulkan, a distinguished jurist and academic, further strengthens Guyana’s representation at the region’s apex court.

During his visit, Justice Anderson is expected to pay courtesy calls on several high-ranking officials, including President Dr. Ali; the Honourable Mme Justice Roxane George, OR, Chancellor (Ag) of the Judiciary; the Honourable Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs; and Dr. Carla N. Barnett, OBE, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Justice Anderson is also slated to engage with representatives from various national political and civic groups, including We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM).

Guyana, one of the founding members and signatories to the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice, has played an instrumental role in advancing the institution since its inauguration in 2005. The country has fully embraced both the Original and Appellate Jurisdictions of the CCJ, which serves as the highest court of appeal for Guyana’s judicial system, replacing the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

The CCJ continues to play a critical role in interpreting and applying the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and in ensuring the uniformity of legal standards across the region. Guyana remains among the most active jurisdictions in supporting the court’s work and reinforcing its authority.

Justice Arif Bulkan, prior to his appointment, served as a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus, where he specialized in constitutional and human rights law. He also previously served as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Guyana and has been recognized regionally for his scholarship, advocacy for social justice, and contributions to legal reform in the Caribbean.

Justice Bulkan’s elevation to the CCJ marks a moment of national pride for Guyana’s legal fraternity and underscores the country’s continuing contribution to regional jurisprudence. Justice Anderson’s visit, therefore, not only highlights the significance of the appointment but also symbolizes the continued collaboration between the CCJ, CARICOM institutions, and Guyana’s judiciary as the region works toward deeper integration and justice reform.