Letter of the Day | The CCJ: All the stars are aligned

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Two decades ago today, on April 16, 2005, the historic inauguration ceremony for the Caribbean Court of Justice took place at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

It was the fulfilment of part of the dream of the members of the Hugh Shearer-led Cabinet who, 35 years earlier in 1970, had taken the just, visionary decision that Jamaica should accede to a regional final court of appeal which should, in time, be established to replace the too-inaccessible Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

In less than four months’ time, in early July, 55 years on, another aspect of their dream will be fulfilled.

At a Regional Heads of Government meeting to be held here in Jamaica under the chairmanship of the prime minister, a swearing-in ceremony will take place for a son of Jamaica to be installed as president of the regional court by the representative of the head of state.

After that meeting, respectfully, the hope must be that the following tragic questions have not been left for the ages: What could reasonably have prevented Hugh Shearer and his Cabinet colleagues from having been finally allowed to rest in peace?

What could have prevented an announcement by Chairman Holness in his address that the authorities have decided that the Privy Council-declared process will forthwith begin for the equitable call of the Shearer-led Cabinet to be finally and appropriately answered by Jamaica’s accession to the appellate jurisdiction of the internationally acclaimed regional court?

Can it really be doubted that all the stars will be fortuitously aligned for the final aspect of their dream to be fulfilled? Can such an opportunity be allowed to just pass on by? – 55 years on since 1970! Surely, that is more than enough time for such a caring, landmark decision to come to full bloom.

A.J. NICHOLSON