Arthur Williams says Jamaicans should vote on CCJ as final court

Opposition Senator Arthur Williams says the matter of a final appellate court for Jamaica should be put to national vote.

Williams made the call today as he contributed to the Senate debate on the three bills to have Jamaica move from the United Kingdom-based Privy Council and accede to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

According to Williams, the matter of Jamaica’s final court should be included on a referendum ballot dealing with the country’s move from The Queen to a Republic.

He asserted that both the Monarch and the Privy Council are vestiges of colonialism and must be addressed at the same time.

The opposition senator suggested that the time has come for Jamaica to become a Republic.

He pointed out that such a move would require a change to the Constitution which must be put to a referendum.

Williams argued that since a referendum would be required to make Jamaica a republic, it would present an opportunity to put the matter of the final court to Jamaicans at the same time.