Overview Of Organization of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations (OCCBA)
OCCBA, successor of the West Indies Bar Association established in Barbados in 1957, is the umbrella body representing more than fifteen (15) Bar Associations in the Commonwealth Caribbean, from Bahamas in the North to Guyana in the South. It brings together the Bars of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
OCCBA Membership
Membership spreads over three categories: Constituent Members, Individual Members and Honorary Members. Bar Associations are Constituent Members. Legal practitioners admitted to practice in any Caribbean territory become Individual Members upon signing the requisite application form and paying annual dues. On recommendation of the Executive, the OCCBA Council elects Honorary Members, for life or for such other period as the Council sees fit.
OCCBA’s Executive comprises five (5) elected officers: President, two (2) Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. OCCBA’s Council embraces the executive officers and 2 representatives of each constituent bar. Election of officers takes place every 2 years at the Biennial Meeting.
Focus of OCCBA
OCCBA keeps focus on questions of human rights, justice and the rule of law. It promotes professional development, access to justice for all, and the improvement of the administration of justice. It supports the independence of the judiciary and seeks to maintain cordial relations among members of the Bar and between the Bar and the Bench. It defends the Bar in its relations with the Judiciary and the Executive.
Early Presidents
Early recorded presidents of OCCBA include:
- J.B. Dear QC (Barbados), 1968;
- Leacroft Robinson QC (Jamaica), 1970;
- Henry Hudson Phillips, QC (Trinidad), 1973;
- Norman Hill QC (Jamaica), 1974;
- Desiree P. Bernard (Guyana) 1976;
- Time Kendell (Antigua), 1978 & 1980;
- Dr. Lloyd Barnett (Jamaica) served as President from 1983 – 1993.
Current Executive (2018 – 2020)
The current executive comprises:
- Ruggles Ferguson, President;
- Douglas Mendes SC and Donovan Walker, Vice Presidents;
- C. Debra Burnette, Secretary;
- Loraine Glace, Treasurer.
Role on regional bodies
OCCBA and the OECS Bar Association jointly nominate two members of the Regional Judicial and Legal Service Commission (RJLSC), the independent body responsible for appointing Judges to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Further, OCCBA holds observer status on the Council of Legal Education which oversees the work of the three regional law schools; holds a place on the CCJ Trust Fund; and plays an active role in the Canadian funded Impact and Jurist projects designed to improve the administration of justice in the region.
International ties
OCCBA maintains close relationships with bar associations internationally, including the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) the American Bar Association (ABA) and the International Bar Association (IBA). Dr Peter Maynard, a former President of OCCBA, now serves as a Vice-President of the CLA (2019 -2021).
Aims & Objectives
- BE CONCERNED with questions of Human Rights, Justice and the Rule of Law and to undertake any action which in its judgment may contribute to the protection and preservation of these and other fundamental conditions for a well ordered society.
- DEAL with all matters affecting the legal profession and to take such action thereon as may be deemed expedient so as to promote, preserve, regulate, and protect its interests and the interest of its members.
- ACT as representative of the Bar Associations and to answer questions and recommend rules relating to professional conduct.
- MAINTAIN the honour and independence of the Bar and to defend the Bar in its relations with the Judiciary and the Executive.
- SUPPORT the independence of the Judiciary and to maintain cordial relations among members of the Bar and between the Bar and the Bench.
- PROMOTE the improvement of the administration of Justice.
- EXAMINE and report on legislation in the area, to promote uniformity in appropriate fields where practicable and to promote and support desirable measures of law reform.
- DECLARE the collective opinion of the Bar in such quarters as it is deemed from time to time to be desirable and to make or support representations to governments, the Judiciary and other appropriate bodies on questions affecting the legal profession.
- CO-OPERATE with and promote co-ordination among legal societies and organizations having similar objects.
- ENCOURAGE good relations and understanding between the Bar and the Public
- PROTECT the public right of access to the Courts, the representation by Counsel before Courts and other tribunals and the rights and privileges of the Bar in relation thereto
- PROMOTE, encourage and improve legal education, study of jurisprudence, legal literature and law reporting
- ENCOURAGE the establishment of schemes of legal aid
- ENCOURAGE the establishment of benevolent funds for indigent members of the Bar.
