Caribbean Court of Justice to be launched Saturday
Caribbean Court of Justice Judges. Left to right standing: Professor Aubrey
Bishop (Guyana), Dr. Lloyd Barrett (Jamaica), Mr.Othneil Sylvester (St.Vincent),
Sir David Simmons (Barbados), Ambassador Christopher R. Thomas (Trinidad), Mr.
Alan Alexander (Trinidad). Seated: Ms. Gloria Grey (Trinidad), Dr. Magda
Hoever-Venoakes (Suriname), Justice Michael De la Bastide (Trinidad), Ms.
Nelcia Robinson (St. Vincent and the Grenadines).
by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Senior Correspondent on assignment in Port of Spain
E-mail: rc@caribbeannetnews.com
Friday, April 15, 2005
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: .According to
information coming out of the press office of the Port of Spain-based
Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which will be launched Saturday, nationals of
13 countries will have access to an institution that will enforce their rights
granted under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Antigua-Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,
Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent,
Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago are the countries that will be making use of
the CCJ. The Inauguration Ceremony will take
place at the famous Queens Hall in St. Anne’s and will be carried live on
radio and television in a number of countries across the region.
According to Administrative Officer
Christie-anne Morris-Alleyne, the Court will operate in its “original
jurisdiction” as the tribunal for looking into disputes arising from the
CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and will also deal with matters on
the CSME referred to it by the national courts of participating member-states.
The CCJ will be the final Court of Appeal for Barbados as well as Guyana.
Morris-Alleyne also stressed that nationals
of the 13 member-states can take advantage of the free movement of skills and
free movement of capital among other benefits of the Revised Treaty of
Chaguaramas. Under the free movement of
skills, qualified nationals will be able to work in any of the 13 countries
and with free movement of capital those nationals will be able to purchase
property and conduct other business.
CCJ officials told Caribbean Net News
that over 700 guests, comprising of Heads of State, Heads of Government, Chief
Justices, CCJ judges, government ministers and Leaders of the Opposition and
the regional press are expected to attend tomorrow's inauguration.
A statement from the CARICOM Secretariat in
Guyana says the inauguration of the CCJ is the conclusion of the preparation
process and the beginning of the life of the institution, which is being
described as a unique institution with both an Appellate Jurisdiction to
adjudicate on civil and criminal matters. CARICOM's Chairman, President Ronald
Venetiaan of Suriname will be among those addressing tomorrow's launch.
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