AG in Suriname at CCJ talks

ATTORNEY-GENERAL John Jeremie is in Suriname today and tomorrow for a meeting of Caricom attorneys-general to discuss the introduction of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Recently, the UK-based Privy Council ruled that the govern-ment of Jamaica needs a special majority of parliament to pass a bill for the CCJ to replace the Privy Council as that country’s highest court of appeal, a ruling which could affect other countries.

Last week, the Trinidad and Tobago House of Representa-tives approved a CCJ Bill to establish the CCJ to rule on trade disputes in the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), but not to replace the Privy Council as the top appellate court. Caricom countries each need domestic legislation to be able to settle conflicts that arise when the CSME comes into place at the end of this year. The CSME will allow the free flow of goods, services and skilled workers. Jeremie is in Paramaribo with legal ministers from Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Antigua and St Kitts to discuss the implications of the Privy Council ruling.

Critics of the CCJ say it will be a “hanging court,” while supporters say it will boost regional sovereignty. Meanwhile, locally, AG Jeremie is caught up in a row over the performance of Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma, who was sent a letter by Prime Minister Patrick Manning as reported by Sunday Newsday. While last Tuesday Jeremie had hit Opposition charges that the Government wanted to remove the CJ as “scandalous and irresponsible,” when Newsday yesterday sought further comment from the AG he was out of the country and unavailable. However, sources said it was unlikely Jeremie would have changed his position on the matter since Tuesday.