The new president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders, will be arriving in St John’s next week as Antigua and Barbuda prepares to vote in a referendum that will determine whether the country delinks from the U.K-based Privy Council and accede to the CCJ.
His visit comes as a committee this week launched a public education campaign about the CCJ and the Privy Council ahead of the referendum slated for November 6, 2018. Another OECS state, Grenada, will also hold a referendum on that date.
During his visit, from September 18-20, President Saunders will hold several media engagements, a town hall session, a meeting with tertiary level students from various institutions at the Antigua State College as well as pay a courtesy call on the Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams and meet with the Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne and the Cabinet as well as members of the Opposition.
The CCJ President was appointed in July and he will serve a seven-year term following which he must resign. He takes over the court’s presidency following the mandatory retirement of Sir Denis Byron, who stepped down earlier in the year.
The CCJ was established in February 2001 when twelve members of CARICOM signed an agreement bringing it into being. It began full operations in April, 2006. Already, the court is the final arbiter for trade disputes between CARICOM States, but only four countries, Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Guyana, have signed on to its appellate jurisdiction.
If the Antigua and Barbuda electorate votes in favour of the CCJ, then it will hear all final appeals in criminal and civil matters.
On Tuesday, the Antigua and Barbuda House of Representatives approved a bill to amend the Constitution where thirteen members voting in favour with the two members on the opposition benches abstaining. The move paves the way for the holding of the referendum.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
wow! They are really “upping the ante” on the attempted psychological brainwashing eh? Thankfully my Creator endowed me with FREE WILL and freedom of choice. I will vote NO to the CCJ!
I am for staying with the privy council. Some of our judges seem at time to show favoritism to those in power. Please my people vote your conscience on this important issue .
For what reason he dont need to visit……we voting no to ccj……well if alp do what they did during the election they might have a chance
Y would i vote for the ccj and our lower court is full of dudu ….one matter would last 5 and six years with matters getting put back for simple reasons mainly lawyers playing a game to get cases thrown out…….
Questions for the good judge. What is his annual salary. What is his total worth.
Is the President of the CCJ a Freemason?
Most of them are baphomet worshippers well most of them dont know what and who they playing with but the lower members believe it is in the name of charity and tell them to come with their own religion and we would just say architect of the universe bull crap…..they tend to go for lawyers ,police officers and so on because in times of need they can have a few strings pull here or there in the name of brotherhood……but when u get deep and realize what it really is it will be to late….no to the ccj and people keep away from devil worshipping organizations under the umbrella of charity oh shit the word umbrella and this topic
I see he’s campaigning for a job! NO!!! To CCJ. We’re are so many things that need our attention and we’re wasting time with this? Or local courts are in a mess, or country’s infrastructure are in a mess, we have other debts and bills to pay, but we eating time with this?
Give me a break. I’m voting no!!!
When, and if ever the PC says they can’t handle or matters, then we deal with CCJ
Comments are closed.