Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has affirmed Dominica will become part of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) this year.
Skerrit made the affirmation Friday evening, as heads of governments of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) held a final press briefing with local and regional members of the media following the 21st intersessional summit.
“A few years ago, we went to the parliament to seek parliamentary approval for recognition of the court in its original jurisdiction. Dominica will certainly be moving this year with the absolute recognition of the court,” Skerrit stated.
He said discussions with the Dominican public on the Trinidad-based CCJ will be convened before the country fully signs on to it.
“I have asked the attorney general to re-circulate within the public domain, and to place on the government website that intention and all the necessary documents relating to the CCJ and certainly set a time table for us to go to the parliament; but we looking at certainly 2010, to do the final step of recognizing the court in its totality,” Skerrit affirmed to the media.
Belize was the latest Caricom nation to announce its decision to move forward in becoming a full member of the CCJ.
Skerrit, who is also Caricom chairman, noted while other countries are interested in fully adopting the CCJ as their final court, some countries are facing their own “peculiar” challenges in proceeding.
DNO CORRESPONDENT.
It’s easier for Dominica to join the CCJ because She is a Republic, the rest of the OECS still belongs to the Monarchy.
Rubbish…total rubbish…why buy a cow when you can get milk free
LOL we in deep shit in Dominica…Is now drama going to happen in the clown Country
Good move. Finally we are getting rid of the last vestiges of our colonial past.
Why have some “Law Lords” with powdered wigs sitting on the Privy Council serve as our final court of appeal while we have the expertise right here in the Caribbean? I would love to see Sir Brian Alleyne as one of the judges of the CCJ.
If there were a referendum (which I personally think is unnecessary) I would vote a big YES.
Educating the masses on this move would definitely be a big help.
By the way does the ordinary man on the street know anything about the Privy Council?
he looks like he took the vodka but not the redbull
WHY ARE PEOPLE MAD THAT LABOUR WON THE ELECTION BY A LANDSLIDE?
MAYBE THAT DID THERE JOB MUCH BETTER THAN WORKERS DID AND ITS AN INSULT TO DOMINICANS THAT U ARE ALL SAYING THAT THE ELECTION WAS NOT FAIR WHICH ONLY MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED WERE STUPID AND HENCE ALL DOMINICANS ARE STUPID
GREAT JOB SKERRIT
It’s a good idea to join the CCJ and abolish altogether the privy council in England. It is time that we resume hanging at the gallows and the CCJ will see to it that this happens. So vote CCJ Mr. PM. Make nobody fool you, Sir, hanging is a deterrent if you enforce it and apply it. Action speaks louder than words.
ok, in essense, the gov’t with parliarments blessings have already decided that it will be the CCJ. Why wasn’t the public consultation first, if it was that important? As with everything Caricom, we are always running ahead, which is good, but the Dominican public should be allowed for earlier input. It seems to me a fait accomplis already. Personally I think we have the maturity to have our final court of appeal in the Caribbean, but most of us have not explored the pros and cons or grasped what the full implications are in a practical sense.
I AGREE!! (Though at this point it essentially does not matter)
all those uwp bashers on the other news items.
Let’s discuss…
are you in support?..if yes…why?…if no..why?
time to hold some construction discussions instead of baseless blind attacks on the UWP
do you want to vote?…..or should the pm use his majority and do as he please?
talk to me…issues my brother
Why should he take it to the people after we gave him a landslide victory?
“He said discussions with the Dominican public on the Trinidad-based CCJ WILL BE CONVENED before the country fully signs on to it.”
Before you all print nonsense on there, can u all please read the story and/or listen to the radio, because if u all had done so, u would notice that the story does indicate and he said that there would be public consultations.
Secondly being a labourite has nothing to do with voting for or against the CCJ and a word of advice please read the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and other information on the CCJ, the CSME before you all open ur mouths and blah!
Please am getting so fed-up – people educate yourself, get to know the issues before u speak, the other islands are so much more ahead of us on the issues in the region – CSME, OECS Economic Union, the EPA, CCJ, Canada/CARICOM Negotiations, CARICOM itself. Recdently there were poresentations by two UWI Professors on the topic and mosgtly lawyers were there! Shame on u guys and the media though they were there, did not do the issue justice – then again its not beff and bashing the PM or the government, so who gives a hoot!
It hurts me to see that the so called journalist here could not ask proper questions about these issues, at the recent CARICOM Press conferences, or were even able to analyse the issues – so the Tv gave u up to 10 mins with Thompson and the others talking about the issues at the meeting – WAKEM UP MY PEOPLE! EDUCATE YOURSELF, as Brother Bob said EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY! because the dawn of the CSME, and other global and regional issues will have us running to catch up and we will suffer!
Though I agree that people should read up on the reasons for the establishment of the CCJ they are absolutely correct that there should have been public consultation BEFORE and affirmation was made. It makes no sense to affirm then confer!
‘Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has affirmed Dominica will become part of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) this year…’ ???
So all that’s happening is that he will be informing the public what he will be doing, but not asking the public weather they want it or not??!!
As far as he’s concerned it’s already a done deal!!
‘Democracy’ at work….!!
The parliamentarians represents the pple JOHN!!!!
let the people decide…REFERENDUM PLEASE!!
and he said that john
what about the public consultations that were promised, i was looking forward to participant in that.
There should be a referendum on the issue.
I am a serious Labourite but I would vote NO to the CCJ.
Messier, my PM looking like he need a red bull, mister pm alas, get a little rest sir.
why doesn’t he hold public meetings and consult with the people just like St. Lucia is doing? i think we as a people should hold a referendum on this as it affects how the laws and constitution of the land will be upheld.
i though the government promised to take the decision to the ppl?