ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — The chairman of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the Privy Council public education campaign, Dr Clarence Henry, is appealing for public discussions on the issue void of partisan politics.

Henry said he attended a panel discussion organised by the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) on whether the island should make the Trinidad-based CCJ its final court rather than continue with the London-based Privy Council.

Antigua and Barbuda is due to hold a referendum later this year following the three-month public campaign exercise.

“Judging from the around 45 persons present, there was clear support for the CCJ. However, those who expressed sentiments of support were always punctuated by calls to address their perception of difficulties at the domestic court level. They argued that the local court should be addressed first before considerations of migration away from the Privy Council,” Henry said.

He said many of the speakers were factually inaccurate in their arguments, which were imbued with strong political sentiments and which he felt were unfortunate from the stand point that the leaders of both political parties have made the point that this matter ought not to be politicised.

Henry made particular mention of the contribution of the ABWU’s deputy general secretary, Chester Hughes, saying it was “difficult to separate if he was not at a political rally”.

In his contribution, Henry said Hughes went on record as accusing Caribbean governments of failing the people in terms of their responsibility to regional institutions like the airline LIAT, The University of the West Indies, and the West Indies Cricket team.

He predicted that they will do the same with the CCJ, saying, “I am convinced we are not making the right decision coming right now with the CCJ.”

But the NCC chairman said he was urging all stakeholders not to tarnish the institution of the CCJ and/or the hard work of the many men and women sitting as magistrates and judges dispensing justice across the Caribbean region.

“Let us not manipulate vulnerable minds; let us speak truth to power and let the facts persuade all as to the virtues of our arguments. Let us not be emotive in our presentations,” he said.

Henry said he was also concerned that during the forum several speakers raised a number of inaccuracies and misconceptions, which he clarified along with former Attorney General Justin Simon, QC, and chairman of the CCJ’s Trust Fund Dr Linton Lewis.

The NCC chair said he felt that it was clear that many at the event were not motivated by the relevance of promoting the pros and cons of either the CCJ or the Privy Council, but ensuring that the country at this time “say no, not yet”.

“This clearly is an anti-development, anti-independence stance which ultimately will be seen and rejected by all fair- minded voters in the country,” the NCC chairman predicted.

He said he is satisfied that the NCC is educating and reaching out to all strata of society giving the facts about the two institutions.

“These are modern times, and we believe that the responsible men and women of this great nation will make the right choice; a choice will redound to the benefit of the further advancement of our jurisprudence. So let us not be fooled by the purveyors of “no not yet,” he urged.

Later yesterday, the NCC was expected to meet with members of the teaching profession as part of their annual Teachers Week of activities.

“We felt a humbling responsibility to meet and share the facts, not emotions or politics, but the unadulterated facts concerning CCJ and the Privy Council,” he added.