Dear Editor,
Both Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday voted in referenda against replacing the UK Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice as their final court of appeal. This is the second time within three years that Grenada has rejected the CCJ as the final appellate court. Another OECS state St. Vincent and the Grenadines said “no” seven years ago to a referendum to abolish appeals to the Privy Council.
I am disappointed and so are thousands of regionalists. Some critics of the CCJ feel that the regional politicians are too friendly with Judges of the CCJ and there is fear that there might be interference – pointing out that the Law Lords who preside at the Privy Council are far away in London and have absolutely no connection with regional lawmakers/politicians.
They feel that they have gotten justice from the Privy Council over the years and there is no need for a change. Other issues have to be addressed like improving facilities at the lower court and providing proper funding for these institutions.
The CCJ was inaugurated in April 2005 and so far only four countries, Guyana, Barbados, Belize and Dominica have abolished appeals to the Privy Council and accepted the CCJ as the final appellate court.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
