Dear Editor,
I endorse the Jamaica Observer editorial of Friday, May 22, 2015 entitled, 'A referendum should settle the CCJ controversy'. Well stated!
I have been leaning towards the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) becoming our final appellate court, notwithstanding widespread concerns about the perceived influence which Caribbean politicians or the impact of Caribbean political culture and practices (some of which run counter to the spirit of the Westminster model of government) are likely to have over the CCJ.
One must be concerned, though, about the indecent haste with which the Jamaican Government wants to pass laws to remove the Privy Council, thereby denying the people judicial access to their head of state (The Queen) without consulting or educating the people on the subject matter.
Then there is the parliamentary Opposition's "wishy-washy" position regarding our final appellate court, with their proposed impractical local third tier within an ailing justice system which is already short of human, infrastructural and financial resources. Can we actually take them seriously?
I am concerned about the fact that the people have not been engaged nor consulted on this serious issue by either the governing side or the opposing side, as these political parties and their leaders seem to have drawn their lines in the sand and it is all about their narrow, party political interests in the game for power.
The people who want to decide on the destiny of our highest court were elected four years ago with less than 30 per cent of eligible voters on the roll. Why do they think it is practical, just, or reasonable for them to decide for the vast majority of citizens, four years later? What about those people who had no interest in voting for either the PNP or JLP in the last general election, but who now have a strong desire to vote on their ultimate source of justice?
I think the solution is beyond a doubt. If the government respects the people, or believe in people power, it should let the people speak: Give us our say in a referendum on the CCJ issue.
Peter Townsend
President
National Democratic Movement
With hasty Gov't, 'wishy-washy' Opposition, give us referendum
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I endorse the Jamaica Observer editorial of Friday, May 22, 2015 entitled, 'A referendum should settle the CCJ controversy'. Well stated!
I have been leaning towards the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) becoming our final appellate court, notwithstanding widespread concerns about the perceived influence which Caribbean politicians or the impact of Caribbean political culture and practices (some of which run counter to the spirit of the Westminster model of government) are likely to have over the CCJ.
One must be concerned, though, about the indecent haste with which the Jamaican Government wants to pass laws to remove the Privy Council, thereby denying the people judicial access to their head of state (The Queen) without consulting or educating the people on the subject matter.
Then there is the parliamentary Opposition's "wishy-washy" position regarding our final appellate court, with their proposed impractical local third tier within an ailing justice system which is already short of human, infrastructural and financial resources. Can we actually take them seriously?
I am concerned about the fact that the people have not been engaged nor consulted on this serious issue by either the governing side or the opposing side, as these political parties and their leaders seem to have drawn their lines in the sand and it is all about their narrow, party political interests in the game for power.
The people who want to decide on the destiny of our highest court were elected four years ago with less than 30 per cent of eligible voters on the roll. Why do they think it is practical, just, or reasonable for them to decide for the vast majority of citizens, four years later? What about those people who had no interest in voting for either the PNP or JLP in the last general election, but who now have a strong desire to vote on their ultimate source of justice?
I think the solution is beyond a doubt. If the government respects the people, or believe in people power, it should let the people speak: Give us our say in a referendum on the CCJ issue.
Peter Townsend
President
National Democratic Movement
With hasty Gov't, 'wishy-washy' Opposition, give us referendum
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