By Sue-Ann Wayow
IT is time for Trinidad and Tobago to completely break free from the colonial past by making the Caribbean Court of Justice, the final appellate court.
On Wednesday, in the Senate, Independent Senator Anthony Vieira piloted a motion to make CCJ T&T final appellate court instead of the Privy Council in England. The motion has the Government’s support.
He said, “The colonial umbilical cord should be cut.”
The motion was seconded by Independent Senator Hazel Thompson Ahye.
Vieira said, “The supreme court of a nation, as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution, is a defining agent of that people’s collective identity. For us, that institution is the British Privy Council. If we are to become our own authors, we are obliged to make the words of our Constitution our own.”
Attorney General Reginald Armour praised Vieira for his contribution calling it a “very timely motion.”
Armour said, “Within the first week of my assumption of office as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley gave me his unequivocal support for making a main plank of my tenure in office, the completion of this country’s journey to fulfil its treaty obligations of acceding to the CCJ as our final court of appeal to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.”
However, Opposition Senator Wade Mark warned that such a motion could be an alleged threat to democracy and the independence of the country’s lower courts.
The Opposition has declared that they will not support the motion that will require a three-quarters majority vote in the House of Representatives and two-thirds in the Senate.
But Armour pointed out that Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as prime minister spoke about abolishing appeals to the Privy Council in April 2012.
Armour said, “I can think of no reason, not rational or otherwise, that could possibly now present any obstacle to the Opposition leader, therefore, lending her support to the requisite votes to accede T&T to the CCJ as our final court of appeal.”
“I embrace with enthusiasm and passion, therefore, the opportunity to participate in this final journey,” the attorney general said.
