GOOD NEWS ON CCJ
Editorial
Guyana Chronicle
November 23, 2003
A CLEAR and encouraging signal that the governments of the Caribbean Community are now more determined than ever to make the much-discussed Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) a reality, is the increasing reports of requisite legislation either being approved, tabled in parliament or in the process of being completed.
Prime Minister P. J. Patterson of Jamaica, the current Chairman of CARICOM, has disclosed, following the recent November 13-14 Special Summit in Castries, that ALL of the member countries of the Community are now expected to have parliamentary approval of the necessary domestic legislation for membership of the CCJ by the end of January 2004..
Initially, the regional court will have, for some countries, both an original jurisdiction to interpret the CARICOM Treaty, as well as an appellate function as a court of last resort instead of the Privy Council in London.
Ultimately, the CCJ will be the final appellate court for ALL members of the Community, including Haiti and Suriname, which are working to adjust their legal systems to confirm to the requirements of the CCJ.
Barbados set the lead in enacting legislation for the CCJ's original jurisdiction and has been working to complete arrangements to terminate access to the Privy Council.
Last week, St. Lucia, which has just announced agreement between the Government and Opposition for a Constitutional Reform Commission, approved, in principle, withdrawal from the CCJ when it passed legislation recognising the original jurisdiction of the regional court on matters pertaining to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
Since then, Prime Minister Patterson has told the media in Jamaica, that his government would have laws in place by year end for membership involvement in the CCJ.
He is arranging to have further dialogue with Opposition Leader Edward Seaga with a view to further narrowing differences over the CCJ as Jamaica's final appellate court.
Difficulties still persist, however, in the case of Trinidad and Tobago whose capital has been identified as the operational headquarter for the CCJ.
But Prime Minister Patrick Manning indicated during the Castries Summit that he was hopeful that the necessary cooperation would be forthcoming from the opposition United National Congress for parliament to approve the required constitutional amendments for the CCJ to have both an original and appellate function as that nation's final court.
The signs are, therefore, hopeful for the proposed new inauguration date for the CCJ in April 2004.