By Leonardo Blair, Staff ReporterTHE FINAL two of three Bills to allow the establishment of the much debated Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) were passed in the House of Representatives yesterday despite passionate Opposition arguments that the legislation did not protect judges from undue political influence.
"We are passing into law today by ordinary legislation the setting up of the CCJ which means that judges can be removed by ordinary legislation," said Opposition spokesman on Justice, Delroy Chuck. "We must understand that the highest court of this land must have the guts to say, 'what you have done is wrong'," he added.
The final two Bills, the 'Act to Amend the Judicature (Apellate Jurisdiction) Act' and the 'Act to Make provisions for the implementation of the Agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice, and for connected matters' completed the necessary legislative framework for the establishment of the CCJ.
Only a Privy Council ruling later this year is necessary before the Government can historically abolish the Jamaican right of appeal to the same United Kingdom-based body.
After attempts by Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister K.D. Knight who piloted the Bills yesterday to persuade the House that the establishment of the CCJ was a step in the right direction, Opposition MP Clive Mullings, issued a stern warning against the move.
He too argued that the judges of the CCJ were not protected from manipulation in the legislation.
OTHER MEASURES
Minister Knight conceded that while the protection of the judges may not be evident in the legislation, other measures are in place to deal with the issue raised at a different level.
On Tuesday, the CCJ (Constitutional Amendment) Bill was passed by simple majority with 33 Government members voting for and 20 Opposition members against.
The House adjourned for summer recess until the beginning of September.
