Dominica says good-bye to Privy Council

PM Skerrit makes a presentation to CCJ President Sir Dennis Byron at Friday's ceremony
PM Skerrit makes a presentation to CCJ President Sir Dennis Byron at Friday’s ceremony

Dominica has officially said good-bye to the London-based Privy Council and has made the Caribbean Justice (CCJ) its final appellate court.

The ceremony took place at the State House in Roseau on Friday.

The event was described as “momentous” and a step forward by Dominica and the OECS by President of the CCJ, Sir Dennis Byron.

“I want to congratulate Dominica,” he said.

He stated that the CCJ had “in certain ways” always been Dominica’s court.

“But today it is completely your court in every respect,” he stated. “And it is now the final court of appeal for the Commonwealth of Dominica.”

Byron noted that the accession to the CCJ by Dominica was a “definitive step” towards completing its circle of independence.

He stated that the CCJ offers increase access to justice for the people of the Caribbean.

“This is very evident in the countries where the CCJ is already the final court,” he noted. “Unlike the Privy Council, ordinary folks have been bringing their cases before the Caribbean Court of Justice. And I can assure you, proudly assure you, that our court is accessible to anyone who has a legitimate dispute that is worthy of adjudication at the highest level of justice.”

He noted that the CCJ will serve the people of Dominica well.

“We believe it is a well functioning judiciary, which like all well functioning judiciaries contributes to economic development and social stability…” he said.

Meanwhile Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said he is honored and humbled to be the leader of Dominica on what he described as a “historic moment” for the island.

“I have in the past argued that our country could not be truly independent if its final court of appeal was a court located in London thousands of miles away and tens of thousands of dollars away from the access of ordinary Dominican citizens,” he noted. “We complete today the third and final declaration of our sovereignty. We build today on two earlier steps: our political independence and our determination that our head of state must be a citizen of our fair land.”

 

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54 Comments

  1. mango doux
    March 8, 2015

    Very sad!! The CCJ was thrust on to us the people by Mr Roosevelt Skeritt without adequate preparation and understanding. We had no say as to whether we wanted to be with the Privy Council or not. Why the haste? Once more my democratic right and may be others, are being tampered with. Democracy is freedom!!

  2. March 7, 2015

    The people have a right to express their opinion, whether for or against. When we do not like someone’s opinion, we then label it as negative. People will not always say the things that we like or want to hear. As for the CCJ it will take time for me to accept it. By their fruits and their works we shall prove them . Time will tell

  3. Northern Bell
    March 7, 2015

    And corruption is now legal… Way to Go!!

  4. March 7, 2015

    as we grow older and more mature, we have moved forward from our beloved fathers and mothers making us completely independent from our parents; why can’t our beloved country, after so many years of colonialism under England, be completely independent of the monarchy? ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

  5. I smell a rat!
    March 7, 2015

    Isnt this ironic ?? The privy council ruled against the labour party in st kitts for changes to the boundaries ..labour party lost …now all of a sudden skerrit says bye to to privy …i smell a rat ….tricks always have a way of coming back to haunt us!

  6. hhhm
    March 7, 2015

    I do not trust any of these

  7. DEAL or NO DEAL
    March 6, 2015

    Bet you if it was Lennox who came with the idea of the CCJ, all those negative comments here would be of a different nature…Those Lennoxites would embrace it and refer to it as brilliant and would honor the NOVICE as a visionary Leader. But no; is not Lennox so it’s bad. Lennox is the only one in Dominica that does no wrong, Mr. PERFECT.. is always right in whatever he does or say. A real con man. But according to them, How long? Not long when them Lennoxites shall see their mistake and realize how deceitful that power hungry dictator can be. Just a matter of time.

  8. Doc. Love
    March 6, 2015

    It would appear the dislike for Hon. Lennox Linton has gone beyond politics. Can you imagine even them big boys who attended the CCJ ceremony at the President’s House today, did not have the courtesy to acknowledge the presence of Hon Lennox Linton’s wife. Every speaker from the chair person to Skeritt, in my opinion, snubbed the Opposition Leader’s wife. We heard names such as Sir Dennis Byron and his wife, President Savarin and his wife, ex President Eulid Williams and his wife, Hon Raymond Blackmore and his wife, Mr. Ferrol and his wife, members of the cabinet and their spouses, even Michelle Henderson Delsol who was brought their to sing a song, her husband, Mr. Delsol was acknowledged. However, when it came to Hon Lennox Linton, what I heard was a bear Opposition Leader, even though his wife was sitting next to him for all to see in her blue dress. Maybe, it was the color of the dress that was the problem. :mrgreen:

  9. cherryjuice
    March 6, 2015

    I was watching the ccj ceremony and it was so disrespectful when every one who came to address the guest and the ministers and there wives but when they come to welcome Hon Linton no one greeted his wife they even greeted the media ,why not Mrs Linton ,have some respect for the opposition leader wife.

  10. pandora's box
    March 6, 2015

    A great day for opening Pandora’s box, Dominica. I embrace the CCJ fully. I can now boast of true dependence from on our colonial masters replacement. Its a retrogressive step forward for our country. History will bear record of its discrimination of our people. Error by the Government for this decision. Corrupt manipulative leadership indeed

    • Pandora's box
      March 8, 2015

      on & forward-Please delete during reading- typos

  11. March 6, 2015

    It was a song writer who wrote and i quote ”there is nothing wrong with the world is the people that’s in it”. That same quotation can be applied to the CCJ “there is nothing wrong with the CCJ; except that POLITICIANS should stay the helll out of its administration including voting on whether retirement benefits should be given to it’s jurists. Especially when it comes to bread and butter issues i personally don’t trust politicians. No one can dispute the qualifications of our Caribbean jurists and their ability to deliver; if they have done such a lousy job at the lower Courts especially when it comes to deliberating on POLITICAL matters; what is there to make us believe that they will deliver at the highest level. Time is a healer and i’m not holding my breath on that one. Some of us take pride in referring to our COLONIAL masters when speaking about the Privy Council and that’s bad enough but it’s worse when you are subject to that kind of judicial treatment meted out…

  12. hide-out
    March 6, 2015

    Mr. President of CCJ. Lawyers and judges of the ECSC and CCJ. Be truthful. Did the people of Dominica consent to the decision taken by a few? How? By a referendum that wasn’t held? Dominicans cannot claim to have ownership of CCJ, when they had no say in deciding if to join or not.

    Have those ECSC and CCJ Lawyer assisted the Dominican people in their struggles for reforming our electoral process? Will not provision of Voter ID Cards, cleaning the bloated Voters’ List, putting in campaign reforms, strengthen our democratic way of life? Is stealing, cheating elections, disregarding the electoral laws not of concern to the President of CCJ? Aren’t Lawyers and judges in the Caribbean interested in firebombing elders,& FREE and FAIR elections in Dominica? fraud? secret deals” Where are the voices of those CCJ, ECSC Lawyers and judges?,

    CCJ fraternity hide-out. JUST THIS!!!!!!!!!

  13. The Facts
    March 6, 2015

    Congratulations Dominicans. Dominica is in the Caribbean and should have its own Higher Court. The CCJ is another stepping stone to Independence. It is not a blockade and for those who will be in need of it.
    Another step to Independence is financial independence. I visualize this will not be for a long while and when all D/cans pull their resources together, be educated, gainfully employed, live fruitful lives and contribute to its revenue. Only then will D/ca be fully independent. In the meantime, nationals are the ones to make this a reality which is an obligation of each one.

  14. Positively
    March 6, 2015

    I have absolutely NO confidence in the CCJ. It is for the the corrupted politicians

    • Paolo Guiste
      March 9, 2015

      Isn’t it funny that Sir Dennis is a member of the Privy Council? Another deception of ‘freedom’ . When will these illuminati stooges stop :)

  15. March 6, 2015

    Bye bye privy welcome ccj

  16. Titiwi
    March 6, 2015

    What is that Mr. Skerrit is giving Sir Dennis in the picture? A, copy of Dominica’s Magna Carta?

  17. March 6, 2015

    Those well researched and eloquent speeches delivered this morning by those Honorable and distinguished gentlemen, must have embarrassed the leader of the opposition tremendously. Accordin to Kevin Hart “Alright, alright you goin learn today.”

  18. A Doubting Thomas
    March 6, 2015

    God Bless Dominica. Congratulations to the Government and People of Dominica. I am happy the DLP is the Government of the Day. Can you imagine if the DLP had to lose, condi Daddy Chess? Our State House that looked so majestic would have been bulldozed down. Dominica accession to the Caribbean Court of Justice would not be a historical happening. Dominica would not be a Leader once again in things good for the Caribbean and her people. As the event unfolded I said Thank God, I am a Dominican and PM Skerrit is our PM.

    I will even dare say that The Opposition Leader must have been inwardly please he did not win the election as he sat among the diplomats in the State House Conference Room. He must had admired it not realizing what Dominica had. Had he won, supporters with their smarts would have wanted him to turn our State House in a Cultural Center. No decent place for diplomats to come. He must have wondered whether Dr. Alexis is related to Bubbles. Thank God he lost.

  19. De country nice
    March 6, 2015

    De country nice

  20. FOUCHETTE FEU
    March 6, 2015

    en beh nous fini bat

    • The Facts
      March 6, 2015

      Not unless you think so but it is not so. Cheer up! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  21. Pondera
    March 6, 2015

    A great day for Dominica. I embrace the CCJ fully. I can now boast of true independence from our colonial master. Its a heroic step forward for our country. History will bear record of its significance to our people. Congratulations to the Government for this decision. Great leadership indeed.

    • John paul
      March 6, 2015

      Yes now you are truly an independent beggar.Feel free to beg from anyone and everyone ,China ,Venezuela,Russia,Monaco,morocco,Cuba you name it beg it.
      Let us see if any of this leads to economic Independance(less Poverty)
      Does not seem like it will because Skeritt has neglected the feeder roads and the farmers are suffering,manufacturing I’d suffering and they have to pay vat upfront on their equipment before they make a penny all we hear is increasing red clinic and NEP.
      Skeritt admit it was a mistake to build a palace before the Hospital for the People.The PMH has a multiplicity of festivals going on simultaneously,Pigeon and bird lice,Termites and now bedbugs(pee nezz)well at least those are the ones we can see I wonder what a microscope would reveal and is this all connected to the rate of deaths there?

    • Eidolon
      March 6, 2015

      You live in cloud cuckoo land. True independence is when you do no rely on other people giving you money or building a stadium for you. We have no economy and are ergo not independent.

  22. Wait and see
    March 6, 2015

    Are these negative comments called for?
    Do we have to maintain this type of attitude all the time?
    What happens when the CCJ rules on matters that doesn’t favor the ruling party, what would you ‘negative people’ say?

    • March 6, 2015

      Do you believe Mr. Mrs. Emmanuel will get justice from the CCJ ?

    • jay
      March 6, 2015

      Let’s wait and see

    • The Facts
      March 6, 2015

      You are correct, wait and see. The future is not ours to see. Do not put the cart before the horse.
      You should have an idea what the negative people would say, should this occur. However, now is not the time to even consider it. Who knows? It may never occur. Therefore, it is indeed a wait and see which I would not worry about or encourage others to do.

    • Espoire
      March 6, 2015

      U got espoire mal papay. U wait & see

    • T
      March 8, 2015

      Of course they are. We have just taken a step backwards and joined a band of rogues.

  23. Tou twelle
    March 6, 2015

    I truly agree with the PM on this on. No politicking. The judges will be answerable to the Most High God. Let your consciences rule you. And give the ordinary people the confidence they need to be truly independent in a land they call home, even if their rulers sometimes act like black crabs.

    • March 6, 2015

      That question about if Dominica is truly Independence was brought up sometime last week and when it was ask they were not referring on paper only. And have you ask yourself what was the rush and how did the people benefited from the none education of the CCJ system. The PM is saying they will now go around the Island to educate the people about the CCJ, do you not believe that should take place first and base on the findings the decision would be made and that would be accepted, remember the people do not find that Dominicans are getting any justice
      The is a done deal and doesn’t matter what the public have to say at this point you all had a chance and you throw it away so we all have to live with what we get, and may God help us

      • Nabes
        March 6, 2015

        In DA we always put the cat before the horse. Sad

      • March 6, 2015

        Correct me if l’m wrong? But shouldn’t it be “The cart before the horse”. In that way the subliminal message makes the point clearer.

      • The Facts
        March 6, 2015

        My opinion is, there are some matters which the government must decide. There are other matters which the D/can people may be included. I do not think this one was necessary that D/cans had to decide about it. In any case, how many of them would be interested at all? For one, the CCJ has been in existence for some years now. It is not as if it is newly established or not yet established.
        The PM is correct in stating that they will go around D/ca to educate the people about CCJ. It is better for those people who, in the first place, may not have been interested, may not know and comprehend what the CCJ is all about. They need to be verbally informed. This makes good sense.

      • Me
        March 7, 2015

        Nabes, the expression is “the cart before the horse”, not the “cat before the horse”. That is why we need educating.

      • River Street
        March 7, 2015

        Were we ever educated about the Privy Council ? Get real@ Patriot. This is not about politics, it is about our Independence from colonialism.

    • Espoire
      March 6, 2015

      You meant tou twette, tou twelle?

      • I minus Nabes
        March 7, 2015

        Nabes ! The horse & the cart went their separate ways lol!

  24. Lougawoo Mem
    March 6, 2015

    Roosevelt Skerrit knows CCJ is a caretaker for future trials of the corrupted politicians under its jurisdiction. Soon you’ll hear Anthony Astaphan and Lennox Lawrence nominated to the CCJ bench. No surprise when it comes to pass.

    • The Facts
      March 6, 2015

      You are always negative and suspicious. Maybe you could apply for a position with CCJ if you qualify for one.

    • Soucoyante
      March 6, 2015

      Just like savarin was nominated to /for the presidency after solid fact of his un suitability for the position.
      he got it anyways! One just need the boys on ur side. So lougs point taken.
      despite their artificial positioning thy are sick and cannot enjoy it.

      • Soucoyante
        March 6, 2015

        Bad heart ,bad bark passa wed according to Trevor.
        3 sick souls.

  25. pinez government
    March 6, 2015

    Well, Justice for all has officially said goodbye to Dominica. Tell me what you want but I see CCJ as the court of Caribbean politicians. Dominica will sure make use of them at the expense of justice.

    • Legal wildlife
      March 6, 2015

      Do we now have a Manicou/ Agouti or even a Tete chien court system as kangaroo court was Britain Australia ,Newzeland?

    • little ole me
      March 14, 2015

      you sound so idiotic…..and the barbados government lost the case with the mayrie woman from jamaica…..my people real stupid tho chhhh

  26. grell
    March 6, 2015

    Who the hell cares about ccj go and fix the hospital and get rid of the piness Skerrit,i hope when you go and visit you take some home with you.

    • La Terre
      March 6, 2015

      Who tell you he going to visit? That too low for him.

    • The Facts
      March 6, 2015

      As the tables turn and all too frequently when we least expect them, you never know when you, a relative or friend will need CCJ and will be happy to use it.
      Are you patriotic? The problem with people as you, you debase and curse everything. For a change, why do you not give it your blessings since it will benefit every D/can who will need it and make use of it?

    • rob
      March 7, 2015

      I like it, I really like it.

    • Pop On
      March 7, 2015

      lol that eh happening Grell ever heard of Air Ambulance? Rich peeps and celebrities don’t go to third world hospitals. The man will be flown to Paris via Fort de france, Martinique remember he is a French citizen who don’t speak French. He never gave up the passport.

      • Pop On
        March 7, 2015

        he don’t speak creole either let alone Anglais well .Doesn’t he remind us of Instruments former Eddy’s solid team of 1995-2000? Who was born in England and butchered the Queen language?
        Skrit did a little baille/cock dance back in 2005 7 invited the opposition leader to try the cock /cork dance. The St.Croix/Thomas based rep had suggested putting Skrit’s cork/cock dance on DVD’s and sell in the diaspora lol LMAO still Guess u 2 grell.

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