The Antigua Labour Party (ALP) was all for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) when it signed on at its genesis, but now, leader Lester Bird is not so sure Antigua is mature enough to handle it.
In a responsive debate sparked by statements from Attorney General Justin Simon, who openly called for Antigua to not only support the CCJ, but take the necessary steps to make it the final court of appeal, Bird said politics is becoming too intertwined in the CCJ, and the justice system at large.
Bird said the ALP would discuss the subject at its next steering committee meeting, and produce an official statement on the subject.
But from his perspective, the former prime minister said, “I have some serious reservations now as to whether or not we should go with the CCJ… I do not think that we have matured enough to the level where there is a clear independence of the judiciary… We need a little bit more time before we can achieve that.”
He pointed out that from the perspective of discussing Chaguaramas and other related issues, Antigua could participate effectively, but from the angle of criminal cases, the country needs to develop capacities and make sure “that perception fits the reality of the independence of the judiciary.”
On Tuesday, the attorney general continued to lobby for the CCJ to replace the London-based Privy Council as Antigua’s final court of appeal.
Simon said the CCJ could be a beneficial addition for Antigua & Barbuda through the legal expertise it will bring to the country from the influx of Caricom member states that are already on board.
(Source http://www.caribarena.com/antigua/news/latest/99007-bird-not-sure-about-ccj.html)
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