The First Sitting of the Caribbean Court of Justice took place on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 August 2005, at the Court's offices on Level 5 of the UTC Financial Centre, 82 Independence Square, Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago.

The sitting was held to consider an application for special leave by the Barbados Rediffusion Service Limited to appeal from decisions of the Court of Appeal of Barbados handed down in favour of Respondents Asha Mirchandani, Ram Mirchandani and McDonald Farms Limited on 20 August 2004 and 23 June 2005.

The 5-member panel of Judges hearing the application included the President of the Court, the Right Honourable Mr. Justice Michael de la Bastide; the Honourable Mr. Justice Nelson; the Honourable Mr. Justice Saunders; the Honourable Mme. Justice Bernard and the Honourable Mr. Justice Hayton.

Appearing for the Applicants were: Sir Henry de B. Forde, QC, in association with Mr. Hal Gollop and Mr. C. Anthony Audain; for the Respondents: Mr. Clement E. Lashley, QC, in association with Mr. David J. H. Thompson, Ms. Onika E. Stewart and Mrs. Shaunita Jordan.

The Court ordered that special leave be granted to the Applicant to appeal from the decisions of the Court of Appeal given on 20 August 2004 and 23 June 2005, and that the hearing of the appeal be expedited.

Provisional dates for the hearing are 7 and 8 November 2005.