Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson yesterday said the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in its original or trade jurisdiction form will still be inaugurated next week Saturday, even if Jamaica doesn't pass legislation to become a participant.
Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday night with members of the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ) at their Kingston headquarters, the prime minister warned that Jamaica's treaty obligation to the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, could be tarnished if the CCJ bills are not passed next week.
"If the legislation is not passed, that will not result in a delay in the inauguration of the court," Mr. Patterson explained. "The court will be inaugurated and come into being on the 16th of April. But I believe that Jamaica which has always honoured its treaty obligations, must not make this the first occasion on which we are in default or renege on our treaty obligation."
On Tuesday, debate on the controversial CCJ legislation stalled in the House of Representatives after Opposition MPs protested that the bill was not properly laid before the House.
CONTENTION
The crux of their contention, which almost precipitated a walkout, was that the majority of a sixteen-member Joint Select Committee, did not properly consider a report on the bill, and as such the report was not properly tabled.
Mr. Patterson told the IMAJ members that assurances given by the Opposition should result in the CCJ bill being passed next Tuesday in the House of Representatives and next Friday in the Senate.
The Joint Select Committee considering the CCJ Bill is to meet this weekend.
The CCJ, in its original jurisdiction, will be inaugurated in a ceremony in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, where the court will be headquartered.
