PM Says Government May Re-evaluate CCJ

Source: KINGSTON (JIS): Wednesday, October 07, 2009

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, indicated last night that the Government may be contemplating re-evaluating its position on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Mr. Golding told last night's Town Hall Meeting in the assembly hall of the University of the West Indies(UWI), Mona, that a number of changes had been made to the Court, since his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and other regional groups raised concerns.

"I think we are in a position now, where we can do a revaluation of that now. I put it no stronger than that. But, I think we are now in a position where that proposal can be re-evaluated," he said.

He explained that the JLP had reservations about the original concept of the Court, including having CARICOM political leaders appoint the judges, as well as the possibility of the Court becoming hostage because of lack of finances. He said that the JLP also needed to see the court function, in order to evaluate its jurisprudential quality.

Mr. Golding said that the Government was satisfied with the appointment of a judicial commission to appoint the judges, as well as the setting up of a trust fund to finance the Court and felt that, in terms of the performance of the court, a re-evaluation was possible.