ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND Minister of Justice, A.J. Nicholson, has described the establishment of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as steps in the right direction, in the pursuit of economic prosperity and true independence for Caribbean countries.
Addressing faculty members and students of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland last Thursday, Mr. Nicholson said that while the CSME would create expanded working and business opportunities for Caribbean people, the CCJ would symbolise the dismantling of one of the last vestiges of the colonial past in respect of the judicial services currently provided by the Privy Council in England.
He emphasised that the Government was fully committed to the introduction of both systems, and that not only would they put more meaning to the sovereignty of countries in the region, but they would also serve as catalysts in the regional integration process.
The Minister emphasised that it was incumbent on countries in the region to establish their own trading organisation, through which they could combine their efforts to confront the challenges of globalisation.
GREATER SIGNIFICANCE
He said this responsibility would assume greater significance in light of the soon to be established Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), pointing out that it was better for Caribbean countries to unite their efforts and function as a single entity, rather than operating as small individual units without the ability to significantly influence international developments.
Turning to the CCJ, the Attorney-General explained that the institution would have the responsibility of adjudicating in disputes which arose in respect of the operation of the CSME, in addition to being the region's final Court of Appeal in criminal and civil matters.
He explained that it would be far less expensive for Caribbean nationals to take appeal cases to that institution, rather than to the Privy Council, as the CCJ would operate as an itinerant court, which would deliberate over cases in the countries in which they originated.
