Why is Jamaica not acceding to the CCJ?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The bottom line is that the Government of Jamaica, in not cutting ties with the UK Privy Council and making the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Jamaica’s final appeal court, is sending a clear and unambiguous message.

In effect, it is saying that ‘our collective CARICOM nations as a region are not good enough to have as effective a final court of justice as the one established by our nation’s former colonial masters’. Additionally, the message being relayed and received by the people is that ‘white British law lords are superior to Caribbean lawyers and judges.’

The CCJ has proved itself over nearly the past two decades to be one that is excellent in every way shape and form just like two other institutions of Caribbean unity and excellence – The University of the West Indies and the West Indies cricket team.

Many or most Jamaicans cannot afford to travel to Britain to access the UK Privy Council, let alone pay hefty legal fees to a lawyer or team of lawyers to defend them. Notably, if Vybz Kartel didn’t have the resources and the means to send his legal defence team to the UK Privy Council, he would have probably remained behind bars.

Putting all other considerations aside, if most Jamaicans behind bars are unable to afford to access the UK Privy Council in the pursuit of justice then do those Jamaicans really have a final court of justice, where they can go and appeal? I think not! Justice denied has no equal, in so far as civil rights are concerned, save and except for the right to life.

PATRICK GALLIMORE

pagalley@protonmail.com