CCJ should be put to a vote by Caribbean leaders

Jul 18, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
Two Caricom states, St. Lucia and Dominica, stated that they will accept the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as their final court of appeal, joining Guyana, Belize and Barbados. The Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal ruled that St. Lucia can break from the Privy Council (PC) as its final court and switch to the CCJ without a referendum.
But why would the government(s) be opposed to holding a referendum on the issue? Do they have no regard or respect for their people? Have they lacked faith and confidence in voters or do they feel that voters should only validate who should govern the country and not how people are governed?
It is curious to note that the small number of supporters (mostly from among the political elite) supportive of the CCJ, are unwilling and/or afraid to put their proposal for the CCJ to replace the PC to a vote, to determine the nation’s acceptance. They know the voters would reject the referendum in favour of the CCJ, as happened in St. Vincent a few years ago.
I visited St. Lucia twice and found the overwhelming majority of people I spoke with are opposed to St. Lucia establishing ties with the CCJ. In fact, most St. Lucians told me they wish to return to colonial rule rather than break further ties with England. The same is true of all the other former colonies of the region including Guyanese.
Similarly, people of non-English speaking territories (colonies like Curacao, Aruba, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, etc.) do not wish to sever ties with their imperial owners. If a vote is held in Guyana on restoring colonial rule with England, almost everyone will vote in favour of it.
And if there is a vote for Guyana to become a part of imperialist America, even the communist will vote “aye”. That is how much people have rejected domestic rule that has been a disappointment in nation after nation ever since the end of colonial rule. People have greater faith in the White man than their own local rulers who have disappointed them and abused them.
I also visited Dominica several times and people are also overwhelmingly opposed to their nation replacing the CCJ with the PC. A referendum will be defeated. I spoke with businessmen in Dominica and they overwhelmingly oppose a break with the PC where they feel they will get “better justice” than the CCJ that could be prone to political interference as has been the case in every territory regarding the dispensation of local justice.
I was in Grenada earlier this year and found a softening of attitude towards the CCJ. However, a majority is still opposed to the CCJ replacing the PC. And in Trinidad, there is overwhelming opposition to the CCJ. There will be a total rejection of the CCJ in a referendum. I visited Barbados several times over the last few years. Bajans were angry with Owen Arthur and are still annoyed with him for breaking ties with the PC in favour of the CCJ – rejecting him twice since he joined the CCJ.
Both the BLP and DLP had promised a vote to make Barbados a republic to sever ties with the Queen as head of state. The DLP has rethought the issue for fear of losing political support. There isn’t likely to be a vote on that issue. Bajans overwhelmingly want continued attachment to the Queen that brings a certain status and prestige to the island – Little England.
St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada and other nations planning to replace the PC with the CCJ should give their people a vote (a voice) on the issue. Hold referendums on the issue!
Vishnu Bisram

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News