Susan Smith, Staff Reporter
ANY COMPANY which has been damaged by the actions of another Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-based company can seek redress in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) when it becomes entrenched, says senior adviser to the Attorney General, David Coore.
Mr. Coore was addressing members of the business community at the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF) CEO Breakfast, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston yesterday.
He said the much-debated CCJ was designed to settle the many disputes and complex issues which are expected to occur between countries, or individuals and countries, because of increased regional trade.
ULTIMATE COURT OF APPEAL
The CCJ was established in 2001 with the concept that each member country of CARICOM would make it their ultimate court of appeal, replacing the United Kingdom-based Privy Council which has been the Caribbean's final court of appeal since 1873.
"A large number of complex issues will arise and will require judicial settlement as opposed to voluntary and conciliatory routes," said Mr. Coore, speaking of an effect of the CSME.
"Any member state or individuals who feel themselves aggrieved can bring an action in the court against another member state or another firm or organ or institution which is responsible for this injury," quoted Mr. Coore from the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
He said that under the authority of the CCJ, companies would be forced to arrive at a method of settling disputes if no volunteer solution was achievable by the parties. Furthermore, companies, entities or persons should have more speedy settlements of these disputes since they would have to comply promptly with the judgment passed down by the CCJ.
The CCJ shall have exclusive jurisdiction to deliver advisory opinions at the request of a member state and companies can even submit matters to the court for advisory opinion.
