PORT OF SPAIN – Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley today accused the Kamla Persad Bissessar administration of only going half-way in joining the Caribbean Court of Justice and described as possibly illegal the government’s plan to adopt the CCJ for only criminal appeals while retaining the British Privy Council to hear civil matters.
“We are expressing our disappointment that the government is only going halfway and is saying that this development will only apply to the criminal proceedings and that we will return to the Privy Council for civil proceedings,” Rowley told the Caribbean Media Corporation.
“We are now seeking legal advice as to whether such a distinction can be made in law with respect to the treaties that we signed to bring about the change from the Privy Council to the CCJ and we are being advised that it is not legally possible to do that, Rowley told CMC. Rowley said the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) is fully in support of the CCJ replacing the law lords in London as the final court of appeal on all matters. (CMC)
