The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) has noted with interest that the debate on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has begun in the Upper House. While we are grateful to those who have contributed to our development as a nation, the time to complete the process of our national Independence has long passed and it’s now time to use the means necessary and available to fully concretise our independence and embrace our Caribbean oneness and identity.

We must, once and for all, affirm our giftedness and uniqueness as a nation and region and do away with the relics of our colonial past by having our own head of State and by fully embracing the CCJ as our final appellate court. The JCC therefore calls upon our senators to advance the completion of our national Independence project with their unequivocal support of the CCJ.

There are more than enough justifiable reasons as articulated by various groups and individuals why this ought to be the direction taken. Other than the need to fully embrace our Independence by putting aside the trappings of imperialism, as represented by the Privy Council and The Queen as head of State, the CCJ represents greater access to justice for every Jamaican citizen. Being an itinerant court, comprising judges of highest repute, Jamaicans will not have to leave their shores to have access, and as such, will not have the hurdle of visa application and the attendant financial costs to travel to the UK.

Jamaica has made significant financial and other investments to ensure the sustainability of this regional court. We need to benefit from such investments. As such, this then is not the time to entertain considerations regarding the establishment of a final Jamaican court.

While it would be a good thing for the Jamaican electorate to participate in this decision by means of a referendum, we regret that, as a nation, we have not yet demonstrated the political maturity that would allow us to engage a matter such as this one without making it into a “political football” or voting along party lines instead of attending to the gravamen of the matter at hand. In light of this, and since it is not a requirement based on our understanding, and since many other jurisdictions have successfully gone this route without a referendum, the JCC is calling upon all our senators to continue our march towards true independence by supporting fully the three Bills to make the CCJ Jamaica’s final appellate court.

Rev Gary Harriott

General Secretary

Jamaica Council of Churches

garionne.harriott

@gmail.com