Patterson: CCJ will protect Caricom’s interests

JAMAICAN Prime Minister PJ Patterson reinforced last week’s call by his St Lucian counterpart Dr Kenny Anthony for the region to support the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), stressing the importance of the Court in safeguarding all of the region’s interests.

In an address to mark Jamaica’s 41st anniversary of Independence, which will be celebrated tomorrow, PM Patterson declared: “Continuing technological advances and the demands of a globalised world call for urgent responses in order to survive. The (Jamaican) Government has led the way with its alliances at the regional level, through the strengthening of Caricom and its institutions, and at other levels throughout the international community. We have taken steps to seal that (Jamaica’s) independence through strategic alliances with our brothers and sisters in Caricom. We are setting up a CCJ and working towards a Caribbean Single Market and Economy. These will guarantee us the benefits to be derived from an enriched integrated economic space in the fight against poverty and unemployment.” The United National Congress (UNC), which supported the establishment of the CCJ while in government, is now refusing to support the CCJ unless the Manning Administration initiates constitutional reform. Caricom leaders are due to meet in Trinidad in November and the CCJ is scheduled to become operational in the same month.

Patterson observed that “over the years this and other administrations have embarked upon aggressive programmes of legislative, social and economic change to enhance our Independence and complete our sovereignty”. He said as the Jamaican people “bring all our resources to bear to meet the new levels of productive performance the world economy demands”, they must be forever vigilant of the never-ending threat of crime to that progress. “Even as we work together to meet these new demands, we continue with unflagging determination to fight against crime and violence which still plague our nation. There can be no let up in our efforts to eradicate this cancer,” Patterson declared. The Jamaican PM said he was heartened by a growing acknowledgement amongst Jamaicans “of the need to restore decency, decorum and mutual respect in the way we relate to one another.” Patterson added that it was only through a spirit of cooperation and willingness to approach problems through dialogue, “we (Jamaicans) can best harness the creative energy of all our people in the task of nation building.” Patterson hailed the accomplishments of Jamaicans in several fields over the last 41 years, saying “the prominence of our country worldwide belies our small size.”