The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has officially welcomed its newest judge, Justice Arif Bulkan, during a
special sitting to commemorate his appointment as the court’s fourth president.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on Thursday (October 16) at the Office of the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, where Dr Irfaan Ali administered the oath of office.

President Ali praised Justice Bulkan’s appointment as a moment of national pride and regional significance, describing him as “a man of intellect” whose elevation represents “both a personal triumph and a national honour.”

“It reminds us that justice in the Caribbean does not flow from a distant metropole, but from within the Caribbean itself, from our own conscience, culture, and commitment to fairness,” President Ali said, adding that Justice Bulkan’s experience and integrity would strengthen the CCJ’s legacy of excellence.

The Guyanese head of state also renewed his call for all CARICOM member states that have not yet acceded to the CCJ’s appellate jurisdiction to do so.

“When every member state entrusts its highest judicial authority to the CCJ, we will at last realise the full promise of Caribbean sovereignty justice dispensed by our own, grounded in our own values, and guided
by the collective wisdom of our region,” he declared.

CCJ president Justice Winston Anderson welcomed Justice Bulkan to the bench, describing his appointment as a source of great pride for Guyana. He commended Justice Bulkan’s long-standing advocacy for human rights, noting his work on behalf of indigenous peoples, the marginalised, and the environment.

“The people of Guyana have great reason to be proud of their son’s elevation to the CCJ,” Justice Anderson said. “As an advocate, he has been recognised for his work in human rights in the region, fighting for the rights of indigenous peoples and the marginalised, and for environmental rights.”

Justice Roxane George, acting chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana, offered a personal tribute, recalling their time together as classmates at the University of the West Indies and the Hugh Wooding Law School.

“He was a brilliant student who has maintained that same standard of excellence throughout his career,” she said.

“As we mark the 20th year of the CCJ, your appointment not only builds on the court’s proud legacy but also reinforces its enduring commitment to excellence.”

In his response, Justice Bulkan described his appointment as deeply meaningful.

“I am acutely conscious of what this court represents in terms of decolonisation and regional integration,
and it is an honour and privilege to have the opportunity to participate,” he said, while also commending the CCJ’s “unwavering commitment to the promotion of human rights.”

Justice Bulkan brings decades of experience as an attorney, academic, author, activist, and international law expert. A former Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions in Guyana, he has served as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Belize since 2022 and was an expert member of the United Nations Human Rights
Committee, serving as vice chair from 2019 to 2022. He currently serves as second vice-president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, to which he was elected in 2023.

He becomes the third Guyanese national appointed to the CCJ bench, following the late Justice Désirée Bernard (2005–2014) and the late Justice Duke Pollard (2005–2010).

Bulkan was selected by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), which oversees the recruitment of CCJ judges and staff.