Grenada Today - July 31st, 2004

Former Crown Counsel in the Ministry of Legal Affairs Guyanese Avril Anande Trotman wants CARICOM nationals to stop viewing the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) with sceptism.

She made the call during a recent news conference held at the Ministerial Complex building in the Botanical Gardens in which she also announced her appointment as the new Solicitor General in Grenada.

Talks about a Caribbean Court of last resort was in the pipeline during the 1970's when Heads met at a summit in Jamaica.

The meeting resulted in the formation of PREPCOM , the Preparatory Committee for the establishment of the body in 1999 which was mandated by the Heads with supervising the arrangements required for the establishment of the court.

Trotman succeeded Nicholas Barnes who was here for the past fifteen months on contract and has returned to Fiji.

The CCJ which is scheduled to come on stream in October has already appointed its first President in the person of former Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago Michael De La Bastide.

Trotman pointed out that although she shares the concerns that still exist about the CCJ, whether the people of the region like it or not the Court has arrived calling it a "done deal".

Some CARICOM nationals are worried about the court being the final appellate body for the region.

They are of the view that judges of the CCJ will not be as insulated from political interference and may base their judgements based on the whims of the politicians.

There is also concern that financial resources, which are vital for its permanence and continuity are scarce and may not be forthcoming. Other CARICOM nationals believe that money would be better spent improving local courts and that retaining the Privy Council as the final court of appeal is more attractive to foreign investors.

Trotman noted that the onus now is on CARICOM nationals who must ensure that the CCJ comes on stream not only as an economic arrangement but one in which Caribbean people can show that they are in charge of their own affairs.

The Solicitor General stated that what is there to be discussed now is whether or not the Court will be the final Court of Appeal for the region.

Minister for Legal Affairs Elvin Nimrod who also addressed the issue spoke of this country's commitment to the CCJ. He gave assurances that efforts will be made to ensure the Court is not interfered with politically.

Nimrod promised that the CCJ will be a court of integrity like any other court in the world. In February 2OO1 ten Caricom countries signed unto the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice in St. Michael, Barbados.

Those territories include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, The Republic of Suriname and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.