Prime Minister Freundel Stuart of Barbados made it very clear he intends to leave the Caribbean Court of Justice if he wins the upcoming general election. He said his mind is made up according to a Nationnews report out of Barbados. Stuart emphasized that his decision to leave was not due to any decisions that were made by the court.
The court recently upheld St. Lucian professor Eddy Ventose’s right to vote in Barbados as a Caricom national.
However, his reasoning for leaving seemed to centre around Barbados’ treatment at the court. “I am not going to have Barbados disrespected by politicians wearing robes,” he said.
“I don’t subscribe to disrespect and I think that the attitude coming from Port of Spain leaves much to be desired in terms of how it is treating Barbados. And I am not going to have a situation where other countries in the Caribbean keep a safe, safe distance from that Court while Barbados supports it and Barbadians are treated with the kind of disrespect that I see,” he added. Stuart clarified that Barbados will not be returning to the Privy Council
In the 14 years of its existence only Barbados, Guyana, Belize and Dominica have joined the CCJ.
I agree with PM Stuart the CCJ rulings on Barbados have been howlers to say the least. Goggle the case of the vicious slaying of a young Russian girl by a Guyanese in Bim. On appeal the CCJ decreased the sentence of this horrible beast. Research the horror of the girl’s parents when they heard of the lessened prison time. On the heels of that the CCJ ruled that aliens can vote in Barbados elections and threatened to sanction (jail?) the Barbadian electoral chief. These rulings have sickened fair minded Bajans. The PM has seen enough and signaled his intention to leave the CCJ. If he wins the upcoming elections or not it will not be business as usual at CCJ.
Please note that the prime minister of Barbados is on his way out. Once he lets the constitution dissolve the house and goes down to the wire like a few years ago when uwp ruled Antigua the pm is making his last few months salary.
Most of you who comment on this story don’t have the facts. CCJ has handed down 2 major rulings against the govt of Barbados. The famous Shanique Myrie case for her treatment by Barbados immigration when she arrived in Barbados.
CCJ’s most recent ruling giving Commonwealth citizens living in Barbados for three or more years, the right to vote in upcoming election. Like all other Commonwealth countries if you are a Commonwealth citizen living in the country for more than 3 years, you have a right to vote in an election; however, the Electoral office of Barbados did not allow CARICOM nationals to register to vote.
These are the reasons why Fruendel Stuart said he would live the CCJ.
I am a Dominica living in Barbados and I know how some of the immigration officer treat non-nationals. I said some (and that’s few). As a Dominican legally living in Barbados for more than 10 years (paying increasing taxes) I have also not been allowed to register to vote.
Ah boy, I see, you are allowed to pay your taxes though! Tt is the case in many other countries and I always thought that is unfair. They want you to pay tax but not give you a say. Well, they can always say that if you don’t like it you can leave but it is wrong in principle. If you insist that people living in your country must pay tax like everybody else allow them vote like everybody else also. If you don’t want to do that don’t let them in in the first place.
Prime Minister we all know about the proud Bajans. Some countries want to dominate everything. Please do not leave but let them know you will not stand for disrespect as you say. In return too you or your country must not disrespect others even the so called small island states. Democracy, democracy. Teeth does bite tongue sometimes. We should be tolerant of others even if we do not agree. At the top show the example. See what is happening around us 16 years, 17 years and young persons shooting and killing their peers, teachers and family.
We are to be blamed. Intolerant we are. fighting against one another. Preaching strife, war, hatred. Leaders stand up and be examples that the younger generation can emulate.
These backwards , clueless and vision less so call Leaders in the Caribbean are still living in an Illusionary state of mind. I hope the people of Barbados send him home soon. He is clueless…
My precise sentiments Colombo. He will get his marching orders on Thursday. Too many intellectual feather-weights and myopic misleaders occupy the seat of power in the Caribbean.
We really don’t care what Freundel think a this stage, cause he will not win. I just hope he lose his seat on Thursday. BLP from St. Lucy to ChCh and St. James to St. Joseph. When we kick out the DLP in Barbados, we will kick out the DLP in Dominica.
Politicians wearing robes, Mr. Stuart describes the judges of the CCJ and he is right on the money. For the PM of Dominica that’s not an issue because that fits pretty well into the way he is running Dominica – corrupt dictatorial regime. The courts in London would eventually have stood in his way.
What this prime minister says is irrelevant at this stage. Come Thursday, he will be looking for a new job.
His support is at all but zero at this stage.
For some time now a number of voices have been speaking out about the disappearance of integrity in every sphere of life, and Mr stuart is right. Most people are too concerned with their public image where having wealth is concerned to the detriment of their moral standing and professionalism. Shame on all who partake. Pull out and let the court fall.
Quite the opposite, Dominica is getting to much respect. This court loves Roosevelt Skeritt.
Bogo Roy with all due respect to you, you are all clueless and confused. Seek Jesus, Fear God and stop wavering …. Hear you…Dominica is getting to much respect. This court loves Roosevelt Skeritt. You cannot comment without showing your hatred for the Prime Minister of Dominica. Ask God for wisdom and start to love and open your spiritual eyes. You all say one thing today and another tomorrow. Get off Roosevelt Skerrit off your mind for once and seek God’s face. Blank him out for once and hear what the Lord will say to you.
With all due respect, the only people confused on this forum is you and your red comrades! Please do us all a favour and spare us your masters propaganda.
I hear the negative comments about the CCJ. Question, what did the CCJ do wrong in this case that infuriated the Barbadian PM so badly? I’m convinced that they followed the law by the letter. We have many lawless and narcissistic persons at the helm of government in the Caribbean. When the Privy Counsel rules against them , one hears no disparaging comments about that particular judicial institution. We, black people, reserve our worst sentiments and behavior for our own. The Caribbean cannot make great strides if our people, especially our leaders, continue to repudiate our own. We still have this misconception that our own is inferior and foreign is always superior. When will we ever learn to believe in ourselves. Sad indeed!
Excellent observation, well stated.
The CCJ pointed out that they were not granting constitutional rights to the foreign nationals who were eligible to vote under Barbadian law.
I agree with you Ibo France on this one. We seem to always want things to go our way. Then no Democracy without election then they say election with no democracy. What do we want. Confused.
Some of your forbearers were house slaves, who used to think that everything the slave master’s doe’s were right… But I can’t believe we still have black folk’s wanting to have our Slave Masters in control of our court system. Again, we are doing mis-educated and blinded politically.
Tony Astaphans and corrupt friends of his are the once controlling the CCJ, so of course any reputable country will get out of this mess.
DLP is right in it’s comfort zone so you won’t see, any pulling out of the CCJ from DLP and Skerrro, After all they have come down in favor of every case Skerro brought before them.
Sad, another case where we are not seen as worthy to take care of our issues. Remember a similar occurrence with the attempt at federation, now the CCJ, and next the west indies cricket team and finally the University of the West Indies. Are we still dripping with the lessons we were taught on the plantation? You see back then, when a black brother was gaining ascendancy, he would be given a whip to beat any one who aspires to headship into submission (keep him in his place), this divide an conquer approach is an insidious platform on which the Plantation Masters survived. You see by setting us against each other we have no option but to remain divided and hence weakened. Shame on you Barbados!! Shame on you CCJ!!!Shame on you Trinidad!!!
“…Politicians wearing robes…” – now that’s a very fitting phrase to describe some lawyers out there.
Hmmph.. So that leaves Guyana, Belize and Dominica who’s next I wonder? CCJ have abad rep man
The CCJ is, as it stands now, is for those corrupt Caribbean leaders and their corrupt layer friends to break all laws and Constitution, knowing that their is a legal thing in place that will always protect them. No wonder Dominica is one of the few islands that embrace them.
My friend ! ” layer” in the first line should be “lawyer” and their” in your second line should be “there” I do hope that u accept the corrections.
The accused thing, Becarefull what you wish for your old propaganda friend Lennox Linton, might be next on the list, watch this space.
Is the UWP going to follow the steps of Fruendel Stuart and withdraw from the CCJ? They should speak up now. Are they going to return to the privy council as the final court.
The question you pose is purely rhetorical and I am sure you now that.