Dominica accedes to CCJ Appellate jurisdiction tomorrow; event to be live-streamed

Roseau, Dominica -The ceremony to mark Dominica’s accession to the appellate jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice is set for Friday, March 6, 2015. The ceremony will begin from 10:00am and will be held at the State House Conference Centre.

President of Dominica H.E. Charles A Savarin, Prime Minister the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice the Right Honourable Sir Dennis Byron and other local and regional dignitaries and officials will be in attendance.

The CCJ is an important instrument of integration and our own independence because we now have a court that has been designed by ourselves, managed by ourselves and, of course, indicating to the world that we are mature enough to handle our affairs in every facet of our development,” Prime Minister Skerrit has stated.[su_box title=”The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)” style=”soft” box_color=”#54c0f0″]The CCJ was inaugurated on 16 April, 2005 in Trinidad and Tobago where it is headquartered. Its central role is providing legal certainty to the operations of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). It is structured to have two jurisdictions – an original and an appellate. In its original jurisdiction it ensures uniform interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, thereby underpinning and advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. As the final court of appeal for Member States of the Caribbean Community it fosters the development of an indigenous Caribbean jurisprudence[/su_box]

Prime Minister Skerrit described the passage of the bill (to amend the Constitution to facilitate the establishment of the CCJ as the Final Court of Appeal in Dominica) as a historic day for Dominica. Prime Minister Skerrit said that Dominicans will have greater and much easier access to justice.

We must appreciate that this will allow for, in our mind and based on the record so far of cases that have come before the Caribbean Court of Justice that it will allow for more of our citizens to gain access to all the levels of the judiciary system in the Region. So we are very pleased that the Parliament has been able to pass this; we look forward to our citizens taking advantage of it so that they can feel that the full process of the justice system,” Prime Minister Skerrit stated.

The ceremony to mark Dominica’s accession to the appellate jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice will be broadcast LIVE via radio, television and internet streaming both locally and regionally. Dominica is the fourth country following Guyana, Barbados and Belize to recognize the court in its appellate jurisdiction.