More Jamaicans give nod to CCJ – poll

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – More Jamaicans are in favour of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), for the country to join the appellate division of the Regional court.

This is according to a poll commissioned by the RJR Communications Group.

The latest Don Anderson poll found that 36 per cent of those questioned, expressed support for the country joining the appellate division of the Court, while 18 per cent said they were opposed to that move, and five per cent said they were “not sure.”[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]

The poll, conducted between June 15 and June 30, also found that a significant number of respondents – 41 per cent – said they did not know enough about the issue to express a preference.

“Thirteen per cent felt it’s best to have our own;  twelve per cent felt that the CCJ was closer to Jamaica – closer to us; twelve per cent also saw it as a display of Caribbean unity to join the CCJ; nine per cent felt that the court system would work better; eight per cent felt there would be more legal rights available to the country; nineteen per cent felt that we should have our own justice system… thirteen per cent said they don’t see the need for the change; twelve per cent said they just don’t trust that system; eleven per cent felt we should stay in the Privy Council; seven per cent, for whatever reason, thought the country would be worse off, said Anderson.

Earlier this year , Dominica became the first member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to join the CCJ in both its Original and Appellate jurisdictions.

Dominica joined Barbados, Belize and Guyana that have signed on to both the Appellate and Original jurisdictions of the CCJ that also functions as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member regional integration movement.

Most of the other Caribbean countries are signatories to the Original jurisdiction.