The heads of judiciary of states which subscribe to the original and/or appellate jurisdictions of the Ca­ribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) have expressed “grave concern” about it and describe as the “breach of confidentiality which resulted in the disclosure of what appear to be internal communications” at the CCJ.In a joint statement issued yesterday by the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago, the heads of judiciary said it had “taken note of recent public reports concerning internal correspondence and matters rela­ting to the administration and functioning of the Caribbean Court of Justice”.The heads of judiciary who agreed to issue the statement are from:Trinidad and TobagoBarbadosThe BahamasBelizeGuyanaThe Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC)Jamaica“The Caribbean Court of Justice occupies a position of profound importance as a regional institution and within the regional judicial architecture.“For those States which have acceded to its appellate jurisdiction, it is the final court of appeal and for most states of the Caribbean Community it is the court of original jurisdiction vested with the power to adjudicate on matters involving the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.“Its authority, like that of all courts, rests upon public confidence in the independence, impartiality, integrity and competence of its judges,” the statement said.The heads of judiciary said, “We do not consider it appropriate to comment upon the merits of statements or allegations attributed to individual judges, nor upon matters arising within the internal deliberative or administrative processes of the Court.“However, we express grave concern about the breach of confidentiality which resulted in the disclosure of what appear to be internal communications.”The heads stated that they remained “confident in the Caribbean Court of Justice as a vital regional judicial institution and in the commitment of its judges to the principles which underpin the administration of justice throughout the Caribbean”.The heads of judiciary reaffirm their commitment to the indepen­dence of all regional judiciaries, the institutional integrity of the Caribbean Court of Justice, and the enduring importance of maintaining public trust and confidence in the courts of the region, they added.