ttgapers.com

Your Ad Here

Former Trinidad and Tobago Chief Justice Michael de la Bastide has been chosen as president of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Caricom leaders yesterday accepted the former CJ at a heads of government summit in St George?s, Grenada.

De la Bastide, 67, who retired in July 2002, said yesterday that he had not been contacted on his appointment and chose not to comment.

The appointment to the presidency of the CCJ, which is expected to replace the London Privy Council as the region?s highest appellate court, was discussed by the region?s leaders.

They were expected to ratify the appointment, which was made by the Regional Legal and Judicial Service Commission.

They had received several recommendations for the presidency of the court.

At the start of the summit on Sunday, Antigua prime minister Baldwin Spencer raised doubts over the CCJ, expected to be inaugurated in November.

The enactment of the legislation has proven to be the bugbear in establishing the court, as many signatory countries are still to pass legislation to give effect to the CCJ.

Local parliamentary sources said yesterday that the legislation to enact the CCJ, which had its headquarters in Port-of-Spain, was already on Parliament?s order paper.

Spencer said Antiguans were critical of abandoning what many saw as the protection of the Privy Council.

?Quite candidly, I am yet to be persuaded that the government of Antigua and Barbuda can avoid formal action to achieve national consensus on the issue of the CCJ,? he said.

?It could well be that in seeking national consensus on the CCJ, certain Caribbean governments might have to venture into relatively uncharted waters in their relationships with opposition leadership in the region.?

But St Lucia prime minister Dr Kenny Anthony, who has lead responsibility for governance and justice in Caricom, said Spencer would be given the opportunity to express his views.

?And I am sure many of my colleagues would like to engage him in discussions so as to guide him from the error of his position on this matter.

?We understand the pressure each other faces and sometimes we understand the extent of gentle diplomatic persuasion.?

He said he was certain his regional colleagues would approve of the November date for the inauguration of the CCJ.

?We really can?t frustrate the region any more,? he added.