The Potential for External Appeal in Honduran RED

The Supreme Court of Mauritius recently agreed in principle to serve as a court of appeal for cases from special development regions in Honduras, known locally as La Región Especial de Desarrollo (RED). The governments in Honduras and Mauritius believe that this arrangement would provide credible assurances to potential residents and investors while helping to foster the creation of an independent judiciary in the RED.

By partnering with Honduras, Mauritius intends to bolster its reputation as an international center for legal services—a reputation that is further enhanced by it’s right of appeal to the judicial committee of the privy council (JCPC) in the United Kingdom. While other members of the Commonwealth have been distancing themselves from London’s judicial oversight in recent years, Mauritius sees the connection as a critical asset—an important way to signal to the rest of the world that Mauritius is a safe and accommodating place to do business and raise a family.

Under the potential agreement with Honduras, cases from the special regions could be appealed to the Mauritian Supreme Court and, if necessary, be further appealed to the JCPCin London. In a recent story for The Guardian, Owen Bowcott and Maya Wolfe-Robinson explore the implications of this arrangement for the United Kingdom.