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Dominica adopts Caribbean Court of Justice As Final Appellate Court
Dominica has become the fourth Caribbean Community (Caricom) country to replace the London-based Privy Council as their final court of appeal, replacing it with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
In a ceremony lasting more than two hours, CCJ president Sir Dennis Byron said he hoped Dominica’s decision to join the Court that was established by regional governments in 2001, would serve as an impetus for other Caribbean countries to follow suit.
“This is really a momentous occasion, I want to congratulate Dominica,” Sir Dennis said, describing the occasion as “really tremendous” as the island “completes its circle of independence”.
He said in a certain way the Caribbean Court of Justice with both an Appellate and Original Jurisdiction, had been the Court of Dominica “but today it is completely your court in every respect and it is now the final court of appeal for the Commonwealth of Dominica”. -(CMC)