Joint Parliamentary Committee to Consider CCJ Bill March 9

The Joint Parliamentary Committee, which is to consider and report on the Bill providing for the implementation of the Caribbean Court of Justice Original Jurisdiction Act 2005, is scheduled to meet next Wednesday, March 9. This was noted today (March 4) in the Senate by Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Burchell Whiteman. Members of the Upper House who will sit with their counterparts from the House, were named.
The members include Government Senators, A. J. Nicholson, Navel Clarke, Delano Franklyn, Professor Trevor Munro and Opposition Senators, Bruce Golding, Dorothy Lightbourne and Arthur Williams.
Meanwhile those from the House are, Development Minister, Dr. Paul Robertson; Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell; Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, K.D Knight; Member of Parliament for St. Mary Central, Dr. Maurice Guy; Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Central, Sharon Hay-Webster; and Member of Parliament for Clarendon South Western, Charles Learmond.
Opposition members are, Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith; Opposition Spokesman on Justice, Delroy Chuck; Member of Parliament for North Eastern St. Catherine, Abe Dabdoub; Member of Parliament for North Central St. Andrew, Karl Samuda and Member of Parliament for East Central St. James, Edmund Bartlett.
The Committee will consider and report on The Caribbean Court of Justice Original Jurisdiction Act 2005, this in a bid to enable the House to pass the legislation and fulfill the commitments in relation to the Caribbean Court of Justice.
The Bill seeks to enact legislation for the implementation of the provisions of the agreement establishing the CCJ to which Jamaica is a party, which confer original jurisdiction on the Court.
It also provides for the establishment of the CCJ as a Court of Original Jurisdiction to hear and determine matters relating to the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community, including the Single Market and Economy and applying applicable rules of international law.
The Bill also makes the way for the establishment of a Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission, which will be responsible for the appointment of judges other than the President of the Court, and for making a recommendation for the appointment of the President.
Meanwhile, the Senate also approved a motion for the appointment of a Special Select Committee from the Senate to sit jointly with a similar committee appointed by the House, to consider and report on a Bill entitled, The Criminal Justice Plea Negotiations and Agreements Act 2005.
The members are, Government Senators, A.J. Nicholson, Keste Miller, Kern Spencer, and Burchell Whiteman, and Opposition Senators, Anthony Johnson, Dorothy Lightbourne and Arthur Williams.
The Bill seeks to provide for plea negotiations to be arrived at between the accused persons and or their legal representatives and the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of criminal charges that may apply.
Last Tuesday (March 1), the House also appointed members to sit on the committee. They are, National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips; Health Minister, John Junor; Industry and Tourism State Minister, Dr. Wykeham McNeill; National Security State Minister, Derrick Kellier; Member of Parliament for St. Mary Central, Dr. Maurice Guy; Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith; Opposition Spokesman on Justice, Delroy Chuck, and Member of Parliament for West Central St. James, Clive Mullings.