Jamaica moving towards adoption of CCJ – parliament to begin debate

Law makers in Jamaica will soon begin a debate on the island-nation’s potential accession to the regional Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and thus disengaging with the U.K.-based Privy Council.

It should be noted that this was one of Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller’s promises to voters while campaigning for the country’s top job prior to the last general election.

According to cabinet minister Phillip Paulwell, the island-nation’s parliament will debate 2 bills: an act to amend the Judicature Act and an act to amend the Constitution of Jamaica.

The two major parties, namely the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) and the opposition Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) hold differing views with regards to the country adopting the CCJ – the JLP insists that a national referendum on the issue be held.

More Caribbean nations have been expressing a desire to shift their appellate jurisdiction to the CCJ. In 2012, Trinidad & Tobago announced it would send criminal cases to the regional court, yesterday it was reported in this publication, that Dominica is working to shift to the CCJ as well. Currently, 3 Caribbean nations send their appeals to the Trinidad & Tobago-based regional court, namely Barbados, Belize and Guyana.