Barbados AG Says Creation Of Caribbean Court Of Justice Not Rushed

by Amanda Banks, for LawAndTax-News.com, London

26 September 2003

Speaking to the Caribbean media, Barbados's attorney general, Mia Mottley has refuted suggestions that the creation and implementation of the planned Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has been rushed.

Ms Mottley, who also chairs the Caricom Preparatory Committee for the CCJ, was reportedly responding to concerns raised by the acting president of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States' Bar Association, Courtney Abel.

Mr Abel accused the authorities of undertaking the project with undue haste.

However, in a recent regional broadcast on the issue, the Barbados AG explained that:

"Since 1998 we have been planning and working for this court...it has taken some four or five years for us to reach this point. We have gone through carefully and steadfastly, a whole set of arrangements in relation to the establishment of this court. So I do not know that it is fair that there has been a tremendous or indecent haste in respect of this court.'

The CCJ will replace the British Privy Council as the region's final court of appeal, and will be located in Trinidad and Tobago.

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