JAMAICANS FOR Justice (JFJ), the human rights lobby group, has rejected Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's invitation to attend the July 9 signing ceremony at Jamaica House to ratify the decision for the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
The group's decision has come just three days after the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) announced that none of its representatives would be attending the event.
The JLP and other interest groups have been calling on the Government to hold a referendum on the CCJ rather than use its majority in Parliament to set up the controversial court.
Mr. Patterson will sign the agreement in the presence of invited guests from the Government, political parties and civil society. Dr. Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of CARICOM, is among those expected to attend the function, which begins at 5 p.m.
Ratifying the agreement will help to speed up plans to establish a US$100 million trust fund to finance the court. CARICOM leaders last year agreed to authorise the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to establish the fund by raising the money on the international capital market. Jamaica's contribution to the fund is US$26.8 million.
RESPECTFULLY DECLINE
In a letter to the Prime Minister, dated June 6, JFJ's executive director, Dr. Carolyn Gomes, said: "In the light of your Government's stated intention to proceed to ratification of the treaty, and then to the establishment of the court, and removal of the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, without a referendum, I respectfully decline to participate by attending the signing ceremony."
She said the organisation was "firmly convinced of the constitutional requirement to consult the people, via a referendum, for their approval of the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice and the removal of their right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council."
