St. Lucia on track to adopting the Caribbean Court of Justice

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that St. Lucia does not require a referendum before becoming a full member of the Trinidad & Tobago-based Caribbean Court of Justice established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court.

A number of jurists and the St. Lucia government had sought the advice of the court to determine whether there was an error in the island-nation’s constitution that would allow for certain amendments to proceed with before joining the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The issue to be settled was whether St. Lucia could proceed with becoming a part of the Caribbean Court of Justice simply by obtaining a two thirds House support or that matter should be brought to a referendum where St. Lucians would vote on the decision.

This proposal originally came before Cabinet in 2010 under the former administration following a document prepared by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

The Kenny Anthony administration has conceded to most of the findings. The country’s cabinet is also required to consider the constitutional and administrative arrangements for joining the Caribbean Court of Justice. -(CMC)