MORE THAN half the island's population over the age of 18 are clueless on what the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is about.
A Gleaner-commissioned Don Anderson poll found that while a small number of the clueless hold a mistaken understanding of the CCJ, most know nothing at all about the court.
According to the pollster, 47 per cent of all persons inter-viewed in a nationally representative sample of 1,037 persons, say they know nothing or very little about the CCJ.
The poll, which was conducted between June 2 and June 30, showed that knowledge on the court was highest among the more affluent. Where there was knowledge, 17 per cent knew it to be a Caribbean court; 16 per cent knew it would replace the United Kingdom-based Privy Council; and 13 per cent knew it would be the final court for the Caribbean people.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent.
LITTLE KNOWN ABOUT CSME
Meanwhile, just under 57 per cent of Jamaica's adult popu-lation know nothing at all about the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
The same poll, conducted by Anderson and his team of researchers from Market Research Services Ltd., showed that the majority of respondents knew nothing about the CSME and where there is knowledge, there is only partial understanding.
"Where there is knowledge, 19 per cent see it as promoting free trade within the region, 10 per cent say that it will facilitate a united Caribbean region, seven per cent, that it means freer movement of labour, and four per cent, that it will allow for free movement of goods within the region," said the pollster in his analysis.
He pointed out that "greater effort needs to be made to communicate more about what the CCJ and CSME entail and how the people will benefit from Jamaica's involvement".
