Pepperpot – Referendum! Referendum! Referendum!
My call last week for there to be a referendum on the Caribbean of Court of Justice (CCJ) as our appeal court of last resort has received the support of my very large readership. Actually I was a little surprised that my sentiment was so widely shared. Everyone thinks that the problem with the CCJ is meddling politicians. Let me share a few of the more pointed comments with you:
CCJ can’t be left to politicians alone
Dear Ms Pepperpot, in my way of thinking, the second most important element of democracy after free and fair elections is the justice system. Any decision to make such a drastic change as to substitute the UK Privy Council with another court must be a decision made by the people, not politicians alone. Referendum I say!
– James Harrison, Kingston
Honest politicians or no
Dear Pepperpot, even if all politicians were honest, we the people should have a say in deciding to go with the CCJ as our final appellate court. If we have no confidence in such a court, we are doomed because it is the justice system that is holding us together and preventing us from descending into anarchy.
– Ann-Marie Brown, St James
PNP agrees, so why the hold up?
Dear Ms Eva-Jean, I see that the PNP has offered to hold a referendum on the CCJ in their negotiations with the JLP. So it seems to me that the PNP has no serious problem or any principled objection to putting the matter to a referendum. Why are we therefore wasting precious time?
– Donna Williams, St Andrew
Pepperpot is right
Dear Eva-Jean, I am in complete agreement with you on the call for the Caribbean Court of Justice to be put to a referendum and that whatever the people vote we stand by it.
– John J Robinson, St Andrew
CCJ issue too politicised
Dear Pepperpot, it will be almost impossible to get an impassioned view about the CCJ because the issue has been very much politicised. A great pity, because the matter is so fundamental to our country’s development. Still, I am on the side of referendum.
– Catherine James, St Catherine
Next column I will share more of the comments with you. If you have not done so, please also share your comments with me.
pepperpot@jamaicaobserver.com
