THE EDITOR, Sir:RE: THE United Kingdom Privy Council's ruling concerning the Caribbean Court of Justice: I must congratulate all parties for accepting this decision with grace and dignity.
I now make special mention of Miss Barbara Gayle's clarity and precision of the full facts as handed down by the Privy Council. All senior attorneys who have been following this case extend heartiest congratulations to Miss Gayle.
The decision is a victory for Jamaican people whose rights must always be to protect against outsiders and even insiders who try to take matters in their own hands and are not concerned with the rights of the Jamaican population.
Leaders before, such as Michael Manley, Donald Sangster, Sir Alexander Bustamante and Edward Seaga have always been standing up for the rights of the Jamaican people which, for centuries, have been neglected.
Jamaicans have been fighting for persons in Panama, Cuba, South Africa and Ethiopia, and not paying sufficient attention to the needs of the people concerning our courts and our legal system.
LEGAL SYSTEM IN SHAMBLES
The legal system and our courts are in shambles now. There are not sufficient Supreme Court judges. At least 44 judges are needed for the Supreme Court. The Court of Appeal needs another seven Appeal Court judges.
The courts themselves are not properly equipped for judges, staff and attorneys-at-law. What we find has been happening over all these years is that great fanfare has been raised concerning the Caribbean Court of Justice and not enough attention being paid to the present demands where our court system is concerned.
All senior practitioners have been advocating that more judges should be appointed who have practised at the Private Bar and have a balanced view of the law in criminal and civil matters.
Norman Washington Manley, one of the greatest lawyers the Commonwealth has produced, recognised the needs of the people and at all times stood up for the Jamaican legal system.
MANLEY HELD REFERENDUM
He (Norman Manley) advocated for the Federation but when he realised that it was against the wishes of the Jamaican population he promptly held a referendum and as a result of that referendum, he declared in his memoirs that he had made a mistake and he was not paying sufficient attention to the Jamaican people.
He lost the subsequent election to Sir Alexander Busta-mante, our first prime minister, and shortly after that he resigned from politics.
This is the decision that our present Advocate of the Caribbean Court of Justice should note and be brave enough to refer the matter to the people vox populi, vox dei voice of the people, voice of God. Let all hear and beware.
I am etc,
ALONZO D. MANNING
