JAMAICA Observer online readers have reacted to news of a 2010 offer by the Privy Council to sit in Jamaica. The disclosure contradicts arguments of inaccessibility to the United Kingdom-based court, which have been put forward by the Government. Here are some edited comments:

Calabash Man

Clean bowled. The PNP has been cleaned bowled by this shocking delivery, and with no runs on the board, the writing is on the wall for their defeat.

chikV2Ebola

Am I missing something here? What’s the real rush in abandoning the Privy Council? Let the people decide through a referendum and let us mash down all those lies!

IMF2014

I am told that the Privy Council travels to neighbouring countries to hear cases.

perry skyi

@IMF2014: I always said it is not cost effective for us but since they are willing to travel here, I say keep them and let them come here because they are less corruptible than the CCJ. It is my opinion that they will be more impartial.

June

Who would not want to come to our warm beautiful island to ‘hold court’, especially when we are going to ‘wait on them’ like royalty? The downside is our lawyers would miss out on the overseas trip! I can’t say if given the chance which way I would vote. ‘Emotional’ me would vote CCJ but ‘rational me’ want to know truly the benefit to the legal system to which the majority have access. I would rather us working towards more economic management than independence of the legal system.

VivstaXtruth

“I am writing to let you know that Lord Phillips and Lord Hope would be delighted if a formal invitation were to be extended, say, for 2011,” di Mambro said.

To those with the argument that Privy council is expensive and that we are unwanted, well the above quote has debunked that.

John H Christian

Put it to a vote… let the people decide.

Jamaicaluv

England just will not let go, we want to forge our our destiny.

ramases

@Jamaicaluv: We have done a real good job at forging our own destiny over the last 50+ years. The results thus far speak to our ineptitude to govern and lead this country and many of its people forward in a meaningful way. Forget England, we are already forging a very bleak destiny for ourselves.

Aubin

Very interesting, indeed. I wonder why they tried to hide this information about the Privy Council willing to travel to little Jamaica. When you have to deceive to get results, it never works out good in the long run.

speak it like it is

Well thinking Jamaicans don’t believe a thing this present Administration say. Because the people of Jamaica know say its not the people these politicians are looking out for there looking out for themselves. That’s why they want to ram this court down on the people.

Guest

A shockingly stupid idea. Who wants a roving court that travels back and forth? So silly (just like the CCJ and the Myrie case). We want a permanent court on Jamaican soil. Right here in Kingston, Jamaica. That US$27 million, put aside for CCJ could easily do it.

CLG

Oops, the cat is out of the bag. The truth will set us free.

XAMYCA

For such an important issue, the debate and arguments for and against are filled with too many half-truths, questionable claims, convenient premises and subjective analyses. The whole episode has not been presented honestly and comprehensively from the very beginning. Sentiments cannot be the main reason why we leave or stay. A national debate is needed in addition to a factual education campaign so that ultimately the people can make an informed choice by a referendum.

CArlton Reynolds

It is very ignorant and foolish to talk about the Privy Council representing the last vestige of colonialism; this is like committing suicide to get rid of your DNA, because you hate your parents! Our thinking is all twisted; we are part and parcel of the colonial experience, so why should we be wasting $3.2Billion and more than likely much more in the future on such an unnecessary venture? Not to mention the waste of time and resources, and the deceptive arguments employed, in trying to implement this white elephant. This fight against colonialism is like forever resenting your parents because they were not rich like your friends parents. All this is about satisfying the aspirations and egos of the legal fraternity, most of whom are failed politicians. But we should not go for a local court either.

Maria Monk

If Mohammed can’t come to the mountain, the mountain will come to Mohammed. This is an interesting disclosure which nullifies the argument of denied rights to justice.

sharon ewars

…So, the Jamaican government knew this all along and are actually lying to the jamaican people to have their way? SMDH. Why am I not surprised?

Shirley Holness

…While there are some positive expected gains to be derived here, the people of Jamaica are yet to have faith and confidence in our own local courts as the feeling is that our local courts continue to work in favour of influential individuals and corporations. However, if only five out of 15 countries have already accepted this court, then there is reason to believe that 10 are having some difficulty to decide. So what is the rush?

Dee

It is regrettable that the story about the nose growing each time Pinnochio lied was not reality-based. As that would be the only way to get these losers to tell the truth. Imagine that the CCJ sits in Trinidad and Tobago (home turf), but they have not replaced the Privy Council with the CCJ. Meanwhile, the PNP is beating us over the back to accept it as our final court.

Randy

Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to have the Privy Council travel to Jamaica from time to time to hear cases rather than funding the CCJ which is so subject to political interference? The consensus of most Jamaicans is that members of the Privy Council cannot be bought or sold so they have greater trust in the judgement handed down.