A letter to the British Government asking for permission to sever ties with the Privy Council to adopt the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) this month has been delayed.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had recently announced that “we shall write formally to the British Government indicating to them our intention of severing ties with the Privy Council.”
According to the Prime Minister, the letter would have been written in January 2013.
However, he told the media this week because of concerns raised by the public, the letter has been held back.
However, he did say Cabinet has already endorsed a draft copy of the letter.
“The letter should go out soon. In recognition of some of the concerns raised by the public, we have had to hold back a bit and engage some of the public on their views, objections and concerns on the CCJ,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he will also be writing to the parliamentary opposition and the bar association seeking their views on the CCJ.
He also said some of the concerns raised by the public are not ‘profound.’
“The question of political interference is a non issue. We have been talking about the need for us to be independence for several decades. When we create institutions for ourselves, people have issue with that,” he stated.
The CCJ was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council, and also serves as an international Tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the regional integration movement.
While most of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have joined the CCJ in its original jurisdiction, only Barbados, Guyana and Belize are signatories to the appellate jurisdiction.
The Judicial Committee of The Privy Council (JCPC) is the court of final appeal for UK overseas territories and Crown dependencies, and for those Commonwealth countries that have retained the appeal to the Queen in Council or, in the case of Republics, to the Judicial Committee.
the people that jumping on their political caravan will be the same people who will not receive justice if the CCJ is implemented..
HELL NO! To the CCJ I say hell to the no again!
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
It’s like the more Mr Roosevelt Skerrit speaks on a judicial issue, the more the public despise his words.
Not profound. A non issue. That is the most funny set of comments from him of all people. THE main culprit of government interference.. hahahhhaaahhhahahahaaaa ffffeerr nneee !!!! He should become a comedian after he gets kicked out of office!
Of course it is delayed. The Privy Council can not decide upon this until the regional appeal court rules if Roosevelt Skerrit is legally elected or not. It is pointless to send such a letter before then.
I know the PM better than most of you and therefore I want you to listen to me. The man knows the CCJ has yet to come out with a verdict. Because of that he is using this so called delayed letter as a means of putting pressure on them to rule in his favor. Here is his point: If he sends the letter too early, CCJ would not be under pressure to rule in his favor. However, by delaying it, he is tying them up, as this seems to be his only way out of this one. Skeritte Boy!
The CCJ is not considering the dual citizenship case. It is the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Dominican cases cannot go before the CCJ since Dominica has not made it the final apellate court. Man, you read but don’t understand.
Mr PM what I hear u saying is that an endorsed draft of the letter has ALREADY BEEN drafted. Hmmm. DAYS AFTER u NOW want to consult. Hmmm mm.
U say de letter should go out soon. So u now want to engage in some showmanship for fame. Showing ur dimples.
It never occurred to u dat u should have show ur dimples first, engage in some public discourse about our concerns, get our support then make de announcement with de firm support of WE DE PEOPLE?
We all know u DON’T want a referendum. U told us so already.
Pretend like u care
**I like the Privy Council more**
“The question of political interference is a non issue. We have been talking about the need for us to be independence for several decades. When we create institutions for ourselves, people have issue with that,” he stated.
Really? This concern is a NON-ISSUE?
Because of the dirty politics which we sometimes suffer from in the caribbean. I would like the Privy Council being our final destination.
-Thanks
just look back on the rulings from the bench in every case involving the government or the labour party I say referandom and i say VOTE NO
We need to hire retired judges from out of the more developed commonwealth countries fot the CCJ. – experience matters you cannot go to a barber shop to pay your money for a haircut just to have a trainee practice on your head. Some things cant be fixed after the damage is done.
dey will still buy them. i say privy privy privy council
A move to the CCJ will help his cause as friends in high places will help him to win any appeal whether he is a defendant or claimant as far as his dual citizenship case goes
well my view is with the pv concil they dont no me and they dont no the government so we can get better justice.but with the ccj they dont no me but they no the government so we have problem hear pv concil all the way
Dominica will then really be in trouble as a country
Maybe the PM is waiting on the outcome of his case hmmmmmmmm
This Prime Minister seems to honestly believe that all Dominicans are fools and seems to be drawing the legal minds into his fools paradise. In one breath he says the cabinet has endorsed the letter to the Privy Council, while in another breath he wants to contact the opposition and the bar association. One would have thought that consultation would have taken place with the different publics/stake holders even before cabinet endorse this letter to the Privy Council, in reality every thing seems to be inside out and upside down in DA
DNO: “However, he did say Cabinet has already endorsed a draft copy of the letter.”
It is called a DRAFT letter!!
same strategy he used to rush the commissioner and president into office.
The public’s views need to be sought too by holding a referendum during the next election.
boy skerrit really want that ccj so he and his coleagues(caribbean leaders) can pull any string that can influence any case in their intrest…
justice will never be served with those caribbean judges that will be loyal to the leaders who put them as chief judge..
If there was a referendum on the issue I would vote NO!!!
I too would vote no, no to the ccj