AG: CCJ a step to ‘true sovereignty’

Attorney General Glenda Morean-Phillip sees the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice as a step to “true sovereinty.” The CCJ is proposed to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the Caricom region’s final court of appeal. Morean-Phillip told the gathering of attorneys, business groups, labour and NGOs at the La Boucan, Hilton Trinidad, on Monday that the need for public education on the CCJ was evident based on some of the comments carried in the region’s media. She said in her opinion the court was an essential element of constitutional reform, which her government had high on its agenda, and which was a priority of the Opposition UNC. She said for some territories, the court was the “final thrust” in an effort to get rid of the “last link in the chain that bound us to our former colonial masters.” Pointing out that change was not easy to accept, the AG said it was understandable that some groups were not yet ready to embrace the idea of the CCJ for any number of reasons.She said changing from the Privy Council could be traumatic and even frightening for some, who would prefer to “hold on to the status quo rather than have us complete our independence”.

Morean-Phillip also noted that there were those who were fully supportive of the court, but were unsure of the readiness and preparation for the task involved. She however insisted that all the mechanisms were in place to ensure the court was independent and capable of dispensing the kind of justice demanded by people of the region. Morean-Phillip added that the process towards independence for the islands was also met with similar sentiments of self-doubt and disquiet as is now being expressed regarding the CCJ. However, the AG assured that such public consultations will seek to remove such adverse sentiments, and then a boast can be made about having achieved “true sovereignty” when the final step to establish the court is realised. Joining Morean-Phillip at the consultation were Prime Minister of St Lucia, Dr Kenny Anthony; Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Sir Dennis Byron; Special Advisor to the Secretary General of Caricom Duke Pollard; Project Co-ordinator and Chairman of the High Level Task Force on the CCJ, Sheldon McDonald and Appeal Court Judge Rolston Nelson. No Opposition members attended the consultation.