ACP Legal Association which executes the Organization for Harmonization of Business Law in the Caribbean (OHADAC) Project has signed an Agreement of Cooperation with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on May 6, 2016, at the Court's headquarters in Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago).

The Agreement was signed on behalf of the CCJ by Court President, The Rt Hon Sir Dennis Byron, and on behalf of ACP Legal by its President, Judge Catherine Sargenti. The brief ceremony was witnessed by French Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Hédi Picquart.

Under the Agreement, the CCJ in recognizing the goals of the OHADAC Project will lend such support as exists within its mandate towards achieving the implementation of a harmonized business law framework in the Caribbean. The OHADAC Project aims to consolidate the economic integration of the entire Caribbean, following similar reforms undertaken in West Africa. The Project seeks to facilitate increased trade and promote international investment by providing a unified law and alternative dispute resolution methods. It is the ultimate goal of the harmonization process to have a unified law that is internationally respected, recognised and utilized.

The signing of the Agreement represents the culmination of discussions between the two organisations following a two-day official visit by a delegation from the ACP Legal Association/ OHADAC Project. The delegation consisted of Judge Sargenti, President of ACP Legal and leader of the OHADAC Project; Dr Jean Alain Penda, OHADAC's Project Manager; and Mr Keats Compton the co-founder and President of ACP Legal OECS Inc.

Sir Dennis, in welcoming the delegation, pointed out the benefits of the collaboration. “We see the collaboration with the team from the OHADAC Project as being yet another way that the CCJ can play a significant role in deepening regional integration and in supporting economic development throughout the Caribbean”. The President thanked the French Ambassador for attending the event noting that his presence had served to give further symbolic significance to the CCJ's efforts to promote wider Caribbean integration initiatives.

The delegation also engaged in discussions regarding collaboration with the Caribbean Academy for Law and Court Administration (CALCA), the educational arm of the CCJ, concerning the joint conference under the theme “Law at the cross-roads: Reappraising the Role of Common Law and Civil Law Practitioners in Transnational Development” taking place Sint Maarten from the 27 to 29 October 2016.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Jean Alain Penda
Email: japenda@ohadac.com