KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Debate on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Bills will begin in the House of Representatives on December 3.
The announcement was made by leader of Government Business in the Lower House, Phillip Paulwell, during Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament.
The Government is seeking to adopt the CCJ as Jamaica’s final appellate court.
Some of the Bills to be debated are An Act to Amend the Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) Act; An Act to Amend the Constitution of Jamaica and An Act to make provisions for the implementation of the agreement establishing the CCJ as both a court of original jurisdiction, to determine cases involving the Caribbean Community and International treaties, as well as a superior court of record with appellate jurisdiction.
Following Tuesday’s sitting, Foreign Affairs Minister A.J. Nicholson said the support of the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is needed to pass the Bills.
“It means that we have to attempt to and hope to succeed in convincing some of the Opposition Senators that this is the way to go. It would be very good if all Senators and all members of the Lower House vote in favour,” he stated.
The Opposition has been calling for a referendum to determine Jamaica’s full accession to the CCJ.
Once Bills have been debated in the Lower House, there is a time period of three months before a vote can be taken.
