The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is one step closer to becoming a reality now that the first president of the CCJ has been sworn in.
The Right Honourable Justice Michael de la Bastide of Trinidad and Tobago was ratified in the post last Wednesday in a ceremony attended by CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of Grenada Dr. Keith Mitchell, CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington and commissioners of the Regional Judiciary and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), a CARICOM statement said.
President of Trinidad and Tobago Dr. George Maxwell Richards administered the Oath of Office.
CARICOM leaders collectively endorsed the recommendation of the RJLSC for Justice de la Bastideﾴs appointment during the 25th conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Grenada in July.
Touted as the Caribbeanﾴs first indigenous court, the CCJ is scheduled to be inaugurated in November, with its seat in Trinidad and Tobago.
ﾓCARICOM leaders consider the CCJ vital to the operation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and have remained steadfast in placing high priority on its establishment as a body of community law to resolve disputes that will arise under the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the CSME,ﾒ the CARICOM statement said.
Justice de la Bastide served formerly as Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago and Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
He holds a first class Bachelorﾴs degree in Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from Christ Church Oxford University in London.
The CCJ president also served as an independent Senator and senior partner of the de la Bastide and Jacelon law firm.
The veteran jurist, admitted to the London Grayﾴs Inn Bar in 1961, was appointed to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on July 27, 2004.
While a number of CARICOM countries push ahead to meet the November inauguration date for the CCJ, The Bahamas remains outside of that process.
Following the Grenada Heads of Government meeting, Prime Minister Perry Christie said, notwithstanding this countryﾴs commitment to support the CCJ financially, The Bahamas would not become a part of that court.
As a result, the Privy Council will remain The Bahamasﾴ final court of appeal.
The CCJ will function as both a court of original jurisdiction and as an appellate court.
In its appellate jurisdiction, the court will apply the laws of member states from which it hears appeals.
As a court of original jurisdiction the CCJ will perform the role of an international court, interpreting and applying the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the CARICOM statement noted.
Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
