he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ruled that, in its appellate jurisdiction, it can only hear appeals from judgments delivered by the Court of Appeal. The Court’s judgment was handed down in Knox v Deane and others, a dispute that has a long history in the courts of Barbados.
In this latest round of litigation, a judge had made an order against Ms Knox, who passed away and is now represented by her son, Mr Knox. The order, made in the High Court by Worrell J, was to seize dividends from Kingsland Estates Limited that were payable to the mother’s estate. Mr Knox appealed to the Court of Appeal.
That court reserved its decision in 2016 and to date has not given its judgment. Mr Knox took the view that the failure to date of the Court of Appeal to give a decision should be treated as if it were a dismissal of his appeal. It was on this basis, that Mr Knox believed the CCJ should give him permission to appeal Justice Worrell’s order. In effect, Mr Knox was seeking to bypass the Court of Appeal and take his case straight to the CCJ from the High Court.
The CCJ disagreed with this approach. In its judgment, the Court stated that unless the Parliament of Barbados provides otherwise, the CCJ has jurisdiction only to hear appeals from decisions of the Court of Appeal. The Court also hastened to acknowledge that “justice delayed is justice
denied.
A delay of over four years in a case that turns on whether a judge was right or wrong in making a garnishee (order to seize assets) borders on the intolerable. Mr Knox is not without remedy for any such denial. Under section 24(1) of the Constitution, he may make an application for such constitutional redress as he considers himself to be entitled.” The CCJ, therefore, dismissed Mr Knox’s application for permission to appeal.
This matter was heard by the Honourable Mr Justice Adrian Saunders, President and Messrs.
Justice Wit and Anderson and the judgment delivered by the President. The applicants were represented by Mr Philip A McWatt and Mr Alair P Shepherd. The second respondent was represented by Ms Doria M Moore, Mr Leslie F Haynes QC represented the ninth respondent and Mr Barry L V Gale QC and Ms Laura Harvey-Read represented the tenth respondent.
