• Latest
Grenada Constitution Reform : The CCJ Convicts Itself!

House of Representatives Approves CCJ Bill

6 years ago
CDB officials visit Carriacou

CDB officials visit Carriacou

10 mins ago
Layne Wins Table Tennis Easter Open Tournament at PWU

GTTA stages ITTF Level 1 Certificate Coaches Workshop

13 hours ago
RGPF

Man charged with Possession of Illegal Firearms

14 hours ago
Caribbean Artists at forefront of Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class experience 

Caribbean Artists at forefront of Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class experience 

14 hours ago
Party boat crew members detained following assault of sportsman Anderson Peters

Harbour Master crew fined for Causing Harm to Anderson Peters

19 hours ago
Vacancy: Chief Executive Officer

Renewal of Tourism Enterprise Operators’ Licences 2022/2023

2 days ago
Work Permit Processing

Applications for work permits

2 days ago
Travel Advisory of Pure Grenada

Renewal of Vendors’ Licences 2022/2023

2 days ago
Caribbean Nations must fight harmful fisheries subsidies

Postponement of Election of Representative for Agriculture and Fisheries Senator  

2 days ago
PM out of State for regional meeting

Cornwall is Acting Prime Minister while PM is in The Bahamas

2 days ago
Government says “no physical altercation” between journalist and junior minister

Grenadian becomes first person from Caricom to head UNFCCC Secretariat

2 days ago
PM out of State for regional meeting

PM out of State for regional meeting

2 days ago
NOW Grenada
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

House of Representatives Approves CCJ Bill

This story was posted 6 years ago
29 June 2016
in General News
3 min. read
Caribbean Court of Justice
Share

by Linda Straker

Grenada’s Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday, 21 June, approved a bill which provides for Grenada to use the Caribbean Court of Justice as its final appellate Court instead of the Privy Council in the United Kingdom.

The CCJ Bill is one of 8 that are presently before the House for the second and final reading, as Grenada seeks to reform its constitution which has never undergone any amendment since Independence was granted by Britain in 1974.

Presented by Legal Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod, he told the members of the House, whose 15 seats are occupied only by members of the ruling New National Party, that when a country ratifies the CCJ Agreement, that country automatically submits to the CCJ Original Jurisdiction, which has exclusive jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. No constitutional change is needed for this as it does not alter the Constitution. Grenada ratified the CCJ agreement in 2001.

Accession by a country to the CCJ Appellate Jurisdiction (“CCJ AJ”) requires a special agreement between that country and CCJ. “Constitutional change is needed for this as it alters the provisions in the Constitution and the other constitutional instruments, which establish and regulate the courts; it substitutes a new final appellate court for that provided for by the Constitution” he said.

Planning and Economic Affairs Minister Oliver Joseph, said that he considers this CCJ Bill very important to the citizens and promises that he will personally champion a ‘yes’ vote for it, during the referendum vote.

“This is one Bill I will go around and influence people to vote for because I want to see this bill succeed. I am not downplaying the other bills, but I will like to see Grenada be a member of the CCJ,” he said as he cast aside the opinion of others who have questioned the competence of the regional Judges at the Court.

“It burns my heart when certain people question about the competence of our regional judges,” said Joseph, who is of the opinion that the CCJ is proving to the rest of the world, that the region can takes care of its business legally.

The CCJ Bill also needs to get the approval of the Senate or Upper House of Parliament. A date for the referendum is yet to be named, but it is widely expected to be held before December 2016.

Provided that it receives the necessary approval during the referendum vote, all appeals pending before the Privy Council at the date of commencement of the Act may be transferred to the Caribbean Court of Justice with the consent of all parties.

All 13 members attending the sitting, including Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, approved the passage of the Bill, which according to law required a two-thirds majority of members. The Lower House is in a unusual position because there are no opposition members, since none won a seat in the House following the 2013 General Elections. However, there are opposition senators in the Upper House.

Nimrod explained that while a two-thirds majority is required in the Lower House, only a simple majority (more than half) is required in the 13-member Senate which has 7 Government-appointed senators.

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
Tags: approvalbillccjconstitutionhouse of representativeslinda strakerprivy council
Next Post

Schedule of Soca Monarch Preliminary

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.