Caribbean Examinations Council

• Author: Duke Pollard
• Profession: Sitting senior judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the highest appellate municipal court of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
• Pages: 143-152

The Caribbean Examinations Council 143

7

THE CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

The same spirit of self-confidence which nurtured the initiative to establish the University

of the West Indies, invigorated moves for autonomy of decision in economic and political

matters and argued vigorously and persuasively for an indigenous jurisprudence having

relevance for the Region, also inspired the decision to establish a Caribbean

Examinations Council. At the Second Heads of Government Conference of

Commonwealth Caribbean Countries held in Jamaica in January 1964, the decision

was made to establish the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) as a fit and proper

subject for cooperation.

One of the most satisfying dimensions of this initiative was its comprehensive

sweep. Initially every Commonwealth Caribbean country or territory was on board.

Signatories to the Agreement were representatives of the Governments of Antigua,

Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada,

Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad

and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos islands. Other territories of the Caribbean were

also entitled to participate in the Council which consisted of the Vice Chancellor of the

University of the West Indies, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, three

representatives of the University of the West Indies appointed by the Vice Chancellor,

one representative of the University of Guyana appointed by its Vice Chancellor, two

representatives each appointed by the participating Governments of Barbados, Guyana,

Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and one representative each by the other participating

Governments and one representative each appointed by the National Committees from

among its members.

The powers of the Council include appointment of a Registrar and such other

persons as may be necessary for the performance of its functions; delegating to the

Registrar certain duties including the appointment of specified persons; fixing the salaries

and determining conditions of service of the Registrar and other specified persons;

delegating to the School Examinations Committee and the Administrative and Finance

Committee such powers as may be necessary; regulating the conduct of specified

examinations and prescribing the qualification requirements of candidates and the fees

payable by them; borrowing such sums of money as may be considered necessary or

expedient and making rules generally for the purpose of the Agreement. The funds of

the Council include charges, dues and fees received by the Council; monies provided

by participating Governments for the Council; interest on monies invested by the Council

and all monies accruing to the Council by way of endowment donation or otherwise.