Myrie case starts

Shanique Myrie with lawyers Mark Ramsay and Michelle Brown.(Nigel Browne)

Shanique Myrie and lawyers making their way to court this morning. (Nigel Browne)

By Tim Slinger | Wed, April 18, 2012 - 12:39 PM

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) heard arguments this morning why they should grant leave to Jamaican woman Shanique Myrie and hear her case brought against the Barbados Government.

Myrie's lawyers, led by Michelle Brown, argued before a packed court house at the Barbados Supreme Court that Myrie's rights were infringed when she was not only refused entry to Barbdos last year March 14, but was also discriminated against.

Brown submitted to the CCJ judges that the alleged action by an immigration officer, who Myrie claimed conducted a cavity search of her on her arrival at the Grantley Adams International Airport, was a further breach by Barbados authorities.

Roger Forde, QC who is appearing for the Barbados Government in association with Pat Cheltenham, QC and Donna Brathwaite of the AG's office, is expected to counter-argue that the CCj has no jurisdiction in the matter.

Myrie, dressed in a black two-piece suit, sat at the front of the public gallery, twitching her fingers as the arguments in court continued.

Today's hearing has attracted members from the legal fraternity, including magistrates, as well as lecturers and students of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus and senior public officials.