MONTSERRAT

FACTS

Montserrat is a former crown colony, but now a British overseas territory.

GOVERNOR - Deborah Barnes - Jones

MOTTO - "Each Endeavouring, All Achieving"

POPULATION:9,340

CAPITAL: Plymouth

SIZE / AREA: 39 Square Miles

MAJOR LANGUAGES: English

MAJOR RELIGIONS: Christianity

ETHNIC GROUPS: Black & White

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: $29 million (2002 est.)

JUDICIARY: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia) one judge precides over the High Court on the island.

BELIZE

FACTS


Belize is a former colony of Great Britian. It is located to the south east of Mexico and borders the Caribbean Sea. It is formally known as British Honduras in 1854 after a lengthy dispute between Spain and the Britian over the land.

MOTTO -"Under the Shade I Flourish"MOTTO -"Under the Shade I Flourish"

NATIONAL BIRD - Keel billed toucan

NATIONAL TREE - Mahogany

NATIONAL FLOWER - Black orchid

DATE OF INDEPENDENCE: September 21, 1981

POPULATION: 287,730

CAPITAL: Belmopan

SIZE / AREA: 8,867 square miles

MAJOR LANGUAGES: English, Spanish and Kriol (Belizean Creole)

MAJOR RELIGIONS: Christianity, Muslim, Hinduism

GROSS DOMESTICE PRODUCT: $2.098 Billion

MONETARY UNIT: Belizian Dollar

MAIN EXPORTS: Sugar, Banana, Citrus

MAIN INDUSTRIES : garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

PRESIDENT: Said Musa

JUDICIAL SYSTEM : Common Law . ( The Chief Justice is elected by the Governor General on the advise of the Prime Minister)

SURINAME

Suriname is the smallest South American country. It was a former colony of the Netherlands. It is located to the north of Belize and to the west of Guyana.

FACTS

MOTTO - “Justice – Piety – Loyalty”

DATE OF INDEPENDENCE: November 25, 1975

POPULATION: 442,000

CAPITAL: Paramaribo

SIZE / AREA: 63,037 Square Miles

MAJOR LANGUAGES: Dutch (Official), English, Sranang Tongo ( Taki-Taki), Hindi, Javanese

MAJOR RELIGIONS: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity

ETHNIC GROUPS: Hindustani (East Indian) 27%, Creole 18%, Javanese 15%, Maroon 15%, Mixed 12.5%, Amerindians 3.7%, Chinese 1.8% (percentages from 2004 census).

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: $2.898 Billion

MONETARY UNIT: Surinam Dollar

MAIN EXPORTS: Bauxite, Alumina, Crude Oil, Gold, Timber, Sugar

PRESIDENT: Ronald Venetiaan

MEMBER STATES

The mini survey conducted recently amoung my friends and family, made me realize that many of us knew and cared more about "the motherland" than our Caribbean neighbours.

Hence this week I will post some information about the various islands of the Caribbean and in particular those who have signed the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice on the 14th day of February, 2001.

MEMBER STATES


1.Antigua and Barbuda
2.Barbados
3.Belize
4.Dominica
5.Grenada
6.Guyana
7.Haiti
8.Jamaica
9. Montserrat
10. St Kitts & Nevis
11.St Lucia
12.St Vincent & the Grenadines
13. Suriname
14.Trinidad & Tobago

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONNAIRE

As you know, I am currently undertaking a research on the Caribbean Court of Justice .

I am therefore seeking your kind assistance with this process.

Please share the information with your family and friends, so that they too can join in the discussion.

Kindly answer the following questions and submit your response to: deidrepowell@btinternet.com or you may just click on the COMMENTS section below and place your answers.

THANKS MUCH FOR YOUR KIND PARTICIPATION!


NAME: ( optional)

PARISH/ CITY:

COUNTRY:
…………………………………………………………………………

1. Do you support the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)?
a. Yes b. No. c. It doesn’t matter to me.
d. I have never heard of the CCJ

2. If your answer is “It doesn’t matter to me”, why do you say that?


3. If yes, what is your main reason ( chose 1)
a. Symbol of true independence
b. Death penalty issue (Pro - death penalty)
c. Concern for regional integration
d. Development of Caribbean jurisprudence (law)
e. The high cost of Appeals to the Privy Council
f. The judges of the Privy Council do not understand our culture
g. Other ( please state)

4. If no, what is your main reason (chose 1)
a. The cost of establishment and maintenance of the Court is too much.
b. The judges of the Privy Council would render better decisions.
c. The judges in the Caribbean would be biased and could be bribed.
d. The politicians would unduly influence the decisions of the court.
e. Against the death penalty
f. Other ( please state)

5 . Have you ever heard of the “CSME” ?
a. Yes b. No

6. If you have heard of the “ CSME” what does it mean?

7. What effect do you think the CCJ will have on trade in the region ?
a. Increased trade between the islands
b. Increased foreign investment to the region
c. Decreased trade between the islands
d. Decreased trade investments to the region
e. No effect

GENERAL COMMENTS



You may email your answers or cut and paste in the comments section below.

Please remember forward this link to your friends and family.

Thanks much for your co-operation.

DEIDRE S. POWELL

GENERAL COMMENTS

As I embark on my research on the CCJ, I am interested in your views and general comments on the topic.

As time goes by, I will be conducting surveys to incorporate this into my research.

For now, here's your opportunity to: HAVE YOUR SAY.

Click on the COMMENTS and post your views.

You are free to put your name and email address, if you wish to be contacted about updates to the site and to participate in upcoming surveys. However, if you do not wish to be named here, but would still like to post and receive information, you may use the ANNOYMOUS option and send a personal email to me.

Thank you.

BASIC FACTS

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was established in 2003 under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

INAUGURATION DATE – 16th day of April, 2005

LOCATION – Port of Spain, Trinidad

MEMBERS

1. Antigua and Barbuda

2. Barbados

3. Belize

4. Dominica

5.Grenada

6.Guyana

7.Jamaica

8. St Kitts & Nevis

9.St Lucia

10.St Vincent & the Grenadines

11. Suriname

12.Trinidad & Tobago

ROLE OF THE COURT
The CCJ was established as a :

1. Court of Original Jurisdiction and will deal with trade disputes amongst CARICOM member states.


2. Court of final appeal, thereby replacing the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (UK)

JURISDICTION – Final Court of Appeal for Barbados and Guyana only

APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES

The CCJ has been plagued with suspicions that the judges would be subjct to manipulation by the politicians of the region. However, the mere manner in which the Judges are appointed, should put these fears to rest.

Unlike most other judicial systems the Ministers of Government do not appoint the judges of the CCJ. They are instead appointed by a Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission made up of 11 members. These members have a one year term of office subject to subject to the discretion of the nominating entity to renew its nominee’s appointment. Article VI (2) (a)

The first committee selected were:
· The Honourable Sir David Simmons - Chief Justice of Barbados and Chairman of the Judicial Services Commission of Barbados
· Ambassador Christopher Thomas - Chairman of the Public Service Commission of Trinidad and Tobago
· Mr. Othniel Sylvester CMG, Q.C. - President of the OECS Bar Association of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
· Dr. Lloyd George Barnett, OJ - President of the Independent Human Rights Association of Jamaica
· Ms. Gloria Gray, BSc, MSc - Representative of Civil Society
· Ms. Nelcia Robinson, B.Sc - Representative of Civil Society
· Dr. Magda Hoever -Venoaks - Professor of Law, University of Suriname
· Professor Aubrey Bishop, OR, CCH, B.Sc, LLM - Professor of Law, University of Guyana
· Mr. Allan J. Alexander, S.C. - Bar Association of Trinidad and Tobago
· The Rt. Hon. Sir Vincent Floissac, Q.C., K.C.M.G. - Former Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court