Minister for Tourism and Legal Affairs, Ian Douglas, has labeled statements by member of the opposition Thompson Fontaine on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) becoming Dominica’s final appellate court as “immature and downright colonialistic.”
Fontaine openly voiced his party’s objection to the move stating “as a party we don’t believe that Dominica is ready for this move. We don’t believe it should have been done. There are still a lot of questions about the judiciary and the ability of our own people to preside over themselves.”
However, Douglas does not agree.
According to him the move to the CCJ is a step toward full independence.
Douglas expressed his full confidence in Caribbean jurists to handle the affairs of their respective states.
“These are men of distinction who have distinguished themselves not only in the legal profession but have distinguished themselves intellectually not only in the Caribbean but around the world,” he said. “I have utmost confidence in the judges; I mean if you look at the decisions that have come from the Court of Justice they can stand the test of time and stand any legal scrutiny anywhere around the world.”
He added further that Fontaine’s statements clearly depicts “politically immaturity and lack of depth” on the opposition’s part.
“It shows that they are out of touch with Caribbean reality because today being in government of one of the CARICOM member states is not only about leading Dominica, it’s leading the Caribbean and its development process and it shows the forward thinking, visionary approach of the leader and the government at this time,” he said.
In January Dominica received approval to leave the UK’s Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and join the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as its final court of appeal.
you is the real key to park them man but i forget you singing real hard for your supper 8).you doh need them man supper ian you have enough energy left to make your own,if you doh let them labour man drain it from you.stop being blind ian.
The talks and discussions have already been done. Let us stop repeating ourselves and put words into action. We keep coming to the same conclusion all the time. It needs to be done. We are taking the lead and putting our words into action. Maybe that is just what is needed to start the ball rolling.
“There are still a lot of questions about the judiciary and the ability of our own people to preside over themselves”.
After more than 400 years of slavery, colonialism and neocolonialism we are still being told that we are not good enough to preside over our own governance. We were told that we were not ready for political independence. We were told that a University of the West Indies degree would be inferior. Now it’s the CCJ. When will we grow up?
Mistakes will be made, of course, but that’s no reason to fear growing pains. After more than 200 years, the United States Criminal Justice System still gets it wrong. Recently, a cold bloodied murderer was found not guilty of murdering a teenager and Trayvon’s murderer walks a free man.
The Queen of England is not even our Head of State. Let’s forge a closer bond with our Caribbean brothers and sisters and take our destiny into our hands. After all, The Caribbean Development Bank helps and treats us better than the IMF. Should we take advice from an IMF technocrat who wants us to be submissive to the forces that enslaved and oppressed us for all these years?
This is not about petty party politics. This is our future. One love; one aim; one destiny. Truth be told Mr. Fontaine, Marcus Garvey would be ashamed of your statement.
As Long As Allyou seeking permission from Irish/ Scottish and York Rites to Set up charters and Lodges in these regions allyou cannot just come up juss like dat and decide allyou want allyou separate Jurist-diction, or be the Last Court of Justice for these regions whom are members of the United Nations, what about the International Court of Justice,
Ian boi behave yourself yeh and just try to do the right thing for your people dem and stop dis Propagandize notion that this CCJ will be an independent Judicial force, unattached from Privi Council,,,
Allyou still seeking approval from the Grandest Lodge who runs the Bar Association(s) to practice “Law” as Barristers in these regions so juss behave,,,
Show us allyou have made allyou due diligence efforts and have studied the Ancient African concepts of Customs and Order before allyou can come talking all dat about setting up allyou own shop, or being the last resort where One can come seeking some kinna Justice,,,
Mr Ian Douglas we the voters understand the reason Mr skerritt is working so had to have the C C J the final court and not the privy council in LONDON
THE REASON IS THE C C J IS A CLUB WHERE LAWYERS LIKE TONY ASTAPHAN IS A PRINCIPLE MEMBER THEREFORE THE INSDER CIRCLE OF TOP POLITICIAN CAN SEE THE DAY COMING WHEN THEY WILLNEVER LOST A CASE
Nonsense!!! This view is too simplistic and naïve. It buys into the bogus notion of the inferiority of our people and the superiority of our slave masters and oppressors. We have been brain-washed to believe that and it shows.
Rasta Do a little Critical Thinking nuh, Slavery never ended you know, ownership was just transferred, they just Incorporated all those Plantations into One General Estate (State, Polities), and Commonwealth is the same meaning as State soh don’t let dem fool you, just stop following all dem Bacchanal times dey giving allyou and head to the library and start asking to see some Books on LAW and learn to research the Etymology of words in unabridged dictionaries, dat dey never wanted us to learn, Marn doh know who your English teacher was but mine never told me about dat science, My Old Oxford Dictionary of English Unabridged Version reads:
Emancipate-etymology: early 17th cent.: from Latin emancipat- ‘transferred as property’, from the verb emancipare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + mancipium ‘slave’.,,
There is a difference between Freedom and Liberties yeh, but dats another Subject for another lecture LOL,,,
When you start to think about this whole concept of the Judicial System it really is the Same Pirates of the Caribbean they just gave titles as Barristers and lawyers wi,,,
When the Crown figured out it couldn’t do anything with the Pirates they gave them Knighthood and turned them into Privateers and then ultimately Lawyers,,,
Ever went into allyou so-called Court and listen to the cases being called it’s always “Her Majesty Against some Plaintiff”,,,
And doh worry wiff dem when dey come talking about it’s the “STATE” against Plaintiff well aks yourself who is “Head of STATE”,,,
Ian before you respond to Fontaine concerning CCJ come show yourself to the people Portsmouth let the youths see you in action you are of no use to us your father and your uncle made a difference in Portsmouth May their soul rest in peace but their soul can’t rest because you have failed the people of Portsmouth we need a new representative one that will stand up for us in Portsmouth shame on you a place where you born and raise I never taught you would fail us like that go and sit down
Ian you should shut the hell up.you have no say in anything nationally when you cannot do anything for the possi people who voted for you over and over again. I think it is time we possi people stop voting for you and the labour party that has failed possi
Aye las look at his face papa bondieu skerro have pity on him, aye las poor mike son.
Speaking for myself , I do not agree with Mr Douglas’ s point of view on judges from the Caribbean region.It is too early as their track record on cases which have been decided is a mixed bag.For example in the case involving PM Skerrit and Peter St.Jean ref Foreign passports, the judge showed lack of wisdom in asking the plaintifs to present the passports to the court.How may I ask were they to get said passports when they don’t have the powers of police to go search private citizens residences?.There are also many other decisions where familiarity with either party affected the ruling of these judges.
The judges in England do not know or owe any favours to Caribbean parties involved in a case and can be trusted to apply the law on its merrit.What the Labour party should have done was to allow the Dominican people to decide in a vote which decision they wished to persue after discussion of the pros and cons.After all this is a decision which affects the lives of every person.So Mr Douglas do not try to stuff your point of view down everyone’s throat ,as not everyone is in agreement with this unilateral decision and it does not make us colonialists.Open your mind to disagreement and do not disrespect people who dont agree with you.
Th more Ian sounds like Skerrit, the more stupid he becomes.
Ian if you seating at a table and you turn your back he will say the same things about you
I have a sneaky suspicion it might be too late for Ian Douglas based on the comments on here.
So I am guessing this advise is a little too late. Oh well I tried
The reason why uwp never stopped campaigning since they lost in 2009 is because, based on the comments on dno, they were supposed to win the elections, so when thy lost they could not accept it.
There is a saying, Like Father Like son(or uncle) in this case. The Douglas family was the equivalent to the Kennedy family.
Now we have Ian Douglas who really needs to do as his Dad and Uncle did and really be the voice of the people.
Rise and be counted my brother like your Dad and Uncle did, please don’t follow the blind and stumble. People are still counting on you to rise and be their voice like the ones who led before you. Please heeds the voices of the people
Oh no!
There is no comparisons between the Douglas’s of Dominica, and the Kennedy’s of America. John Fitzgerald Kennedy was President of the United States, and was assassinated in Dallas Texas, while in office. His brother, whom I do not remember his first name, was Attorney General of the Unites States of America; he too was assassinated in Los Angeles, while bidding for the presidency.
Ted Kennedy, was in the United States Senate, for more than forty years beat every opponent who tried to dethrone him ever so often. He died of natural causes about two years, one of their Nephews just vacated his seat in the senate, he was not defeated at the poles, one of the sons of late president JFK, died in a plain crash, a few years ago while he was piloting his plain home.
Their sisters are also very successful people, one of then was recently appointed Ambassador to a European country. JFK Jr, was also a war hero: the only action a Douglas ever seen in war was perhaps while Rosie claimed he ran five terrorist camp in Libya oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah; that’s me late friend!
As for the father Fitzgerald the father of the late president, himself spent many years in the U.S. Senate. there is no need for me to talk about their wealth, because what anyone of the Kennedy’s alive can throw out of the window, everyday for the rest of their natural life, and not missed it, the Douglas’s will never own that kind of wealth for as long as they live.
Now America, talking about people they love the Kennedy’s, that is the biggest difference. Robert B. Douglas, Estate owner; he owned an Estate at Hempstead; made his living from agriculture, had a grocery shop in Portsmouth, and owned a small boat which took people along the coast to Roseau prior to the North he Eastern Road which runs from Portsmouth through Wesley to Roseau. the first time the boat traveled to Barbados, it never made it back; doh ask me why cause I doh know eh. He played politician all of his life, never made it into the legislature, back in the colonial days.
His son Michael made it into the Patrick John regime, he was not a success, as he was fired by John.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
When he died, I understand he died poor: King Rosie Douglas, was not in Dominica, at the time, all of a sudden he blew into Dominica, and declared “Michael” told me to take his place!”
Next thing you know, he learnt the phrase corruption he used it against the UWP, and in a sense cause the UWP to loose power, they did not get a majority of the votes hence he formed a coalition government which could not function, he died in office as a result of untreated hypertension.
There was another brother to RBD, he and his children remain known. And mind you the only people who cares about the Douglas’s are some people in Portsmouth, not all! So there is no actual comparisons between both families. It is like we are talking about apples and oranges here.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
But you are following the blind. What do you think about Linton having a man who cannot manage his personal finances to be his minister of finance. These are no allegations. these are facts. The man transferred money from the account of a private organization, of which he was the treasurer, into his own personal account causing the organization to be now defunct. It is now being found out that he had serious financial problems at the time and he is still broke. His house is in foreclosure and there is judgement being brought against him for unpaid credit card bills. Do you really think that your team is exercising good judgement by having someone like this as their minister of finance?
Ian singing for his supper! All shall eat!
Ian now is the time to follow Urban Baron’s actions and switch to the opposition.
Everybody knows that Skerro does not want you anymore to run in Possie , so save face and leave this man group alone.
What is more “immature” than stealing from a non profit organization and putting it in your personal accoumt.
DNO, Douglas sweeps under the mat UWP claims concerning the CCJ sounds better, Because it is rubbish
If the capability, prestige and independence of our national and regional institutions are any indicator to go by, then the answer is clear!!
dno could u please publish statements that argues the topic …..topic –can black people rule themselves …this so-much bigger than Dominica..some statement does not contribute to the debates …but some individual getting a opportunity to voice disrespect to wards opposition or government …please filter those comments .we will have a more respectful and educational debate
Douglas needs to be brushed aside, who was greeting the people in Portsmouth yesterday with their supremo? not him for sure.
Mr Douglas just keep your mouth shut cause all now so the pm is looking for a new representative for possie if he gets this person you are OUT OUT OUT of the race
And your point ‘is?
Mr. Douglas I wonder if your really rehearsed what you said or wish to be said.
FONTAINE MADE NO SUCH SENTIMENTS AS OBJECTION….IT MENAS PREPAREDENESS….WHERE ARE YOU DOUGLAS????????
As the principle government and state’s legal advisor and protector I advised you to re read what Thompson Fontaine said. Fontaine has opened a debate of maturity, intelligence, and you have to raise yourself to this standard. We need to know what we are getting into and until there is some level of intelligence, Fontaine is right, we are just not yet ready.
Approval from the UK is not Justificati0n, it simple means they give us matching orders, it does not mean we are ready intellectually, meaning our people need to be informed and educated, especially you and your colleagues in government. This thing is NOT A WALK OVER YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED.
Uwp does not and will never ever rever sever the CCJ so sir help me Jah
CHANGE MUST COME
wE WILL make bryan allen chair our court
he was knighted in Antigua not Uk so he is our own
Whipping boy Ian is at it again; you know I have no doubt the reason Benhanzin changed his name from Douglas to Benhanzin it might be because of you; and I do not blame him if that’s the case because each, and every time you open your mouth, all that comes out of it is total garbage!
Fountain is not a play lawyer, however he has on different occasions exposed the flaws in the CCJ, the way it is set up right now; in the interim will prove disastrous. If you have any commonsense, perhaps you would have reviewed the attitude, of Barbados, and the position they took after a ruling was handed down by the CCJ.
How many more disgruntled behavior you anticipate before you and your regime discovers that you people has made a very bad error by abandoning, pulling out of the British Colonial Privy System which has worked so well for hundreds of years.?
The only time some of you will realize the CCJ is not capable of rendering proper, and fair judgment is when one of you the same people in your regime fall victim to some bad court decision in Dominica, and when the matter is appealed to the CCJ you find yourself holding the short end of the stick because of some prejudicial verdict rendered against you.
Corruption is a sort of covalent in the Caribbean which bonds a whole lot of corrupt people in office in the Caribbean, even within the judicial system. Appointments to that court will have to be approved by all the corrupt governments which are members of the CCJ, some if not all of the judges are going to be controlled like poppet’s on a string, they will be manipulated by the politicians who employ them, hence justice will not be rendered based on wight or wrong, but on who the politicians favor will be victorious based on the direction and influence these politicians will maintain over the court.
All they will do is call in and demand in who’s favor the court rules.
I gone before somebody lock my butt in Dominica jail and throw away key, and if I am not lucky they might lock me up under the jail house oui!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
To read Ian Douglas’ utterances makes you wonder if this man has any moral fiber left in his bones. For him to say that Dr. Thomson Fontaine’s statement is politically immaturity and lack of depth again speaks volumes of the caliber of the individual he is. Shame on you Sir.
All these arguments have been raise by eminent legal minds in the region so stop doing like they are baseless frivolous concerns. If you were worth your salt you would strike up more debate on the issue. You are one of two lawyers in cabinet and your views there amongst those fools are not even respected. Go figure !
Ian please stop trying to sound like Skerritt and rubbish everything, you are all the same. You are an attorney my boy, when last you did work of substance ? When last have you read a judgment ? Come on, show your worth if you have any.
Why the personal attack on Ian. And why should anyone want to be still attached to the mother country. Even the mother country has accepted that colonialism is over and accepted. How can we be ever ready to rule ourselves if we are not allowed to try
Anonymous I have read some of your comments and have agreed with them, but I think you should stop with the name calling and personal attacks and allegations. Although I disagree with your point of view on this issue, it is worth public debate and you can encourage that
Ok Ok Ok…. we have all these Phd’s around, all these dazzling brilliant minds… we have evolved so much that we can now or rather we now feel capable of managing our courts – very confident that we can deliver justice without bias, fear, intimidation or prejudices —– Mr Douglas and the others who share these sentiments – please tell me the number of cases that the CCJ has handled where justice was served fairly and squarely and was also enforced.
We just need to look around us for the reasons why we cant or cant head to CCJ – if its as brilliant as they say, then we should have no problem finding facts (cases) to prove that.