THE JAMAICAN Bar Association has added its voice in lauding the landmark ruling of the Privy Council against the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Bills that were passed in Parliament last year.
The Association is, however, calling for corrective action to be taken in relation to the rest of the agreement surrounding the CCJ.
Arlene Harrison Henry, president of the Association said in a press release: "The ruling of the Privy Council is consistent with the views adopted by the Jamaican Bar Association published in our position paper in March 2000 and advanced by the Association through the years."
CONSTITUTIONALLY ENTRENCHED
She further pointed out," In fact in response to the Association, the Government had stated that it would seek to have the Court constitutionally entrenched."
She, however ,called for "corrective action" to be taken to address the defects that it had identified in the agreement. These concerns she said included the absence of a requirement that the Court should sit in Jamaica when hearing Jamaican appeals and the establishment of the rules of the Court.
The Association president also expressed "grave concerns" about the conditions of the administration of justice and the deplorable conditions of the system of justice.
The Jamaican Bar Association also reaffirmed its commitment to the people of Jamaica and the region to challenge all legislation which are unconstitutional or unjust.
On Thursday, the Privy Council ruled that the Government's handling of the process of the CCJ Bills was unconstitutional and therefore was void.
