CCJ Debate Further Delayed

Debate on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Bills has been further delayed, due to the absence of Opposition members from today’s (October 30) sitting of the Upper Chamber.

Leader of Government Business, Senator Hon. A.J. Nicholson, in a statement, said whether or not the Opposition members attend next week, “certain positions will be put forward by the Government, on which the public would expect a position to be openly and unambiguously expressed by the Opposition.”

He also appealed for the business of the Senate “to be conducted at the place designated for its sitting.”

“That is Gordon House. No amount of letters and press conferences or appearances on talk shows can substitute. Let a motion be tabled in the Senate, so that the issues can be addressed,” he said.

Senate President Floyd Morris, in noting the concerns over his decision to suspend Senator Malahoo Forte on October 23, said he has communicated to Leader of Opposition Business, Tom Taveres Finson, a willingness accommodate a motion seeking clarity, or to challenge his position.

The suspension was lifted at the sitting of the Chamber on October 29.

Senator Morris informed that Standing Orders 41 “indicate that if there is a ruling by the President of the Senate, that ruling can only be challenged by a substantive motion that is brought by members, so the members would have to come to the Senate in order to have their issues heard.”

Debate on the three Bills, which are seeking to make the CCJ Jamaica’s final appellate court started in the Senate on October 16.

The Bills are the Constitution (Amendment) (Caribbean Court of Justice) Act 2015; the Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, 2015, and the Caribbean Court of Justice Act, 2015.