Dominica to drop Privy Council

Correction & Clarification

In yesterday’s publication, page C11, The Gleaner erroneously carried the headline ‘Dom Rep to drop Privy Council’. This headline should have read ‘Dominica to drop Privy Council’ as indicated in the story. The story noted that Dominica, and not the Dominican Republic, had informed the United Kingdom government of its intention to cut ties with the London-based Privy Council, in favour of the Caribbean Court of Justice. The Gleaner apologises for this error and any inconvenience it might have caused.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ROSEAU (CMC):

Dominica says it has written to the United Kingdom government informing it officially of its intention to cut ties with the London-based Privy Council in favour of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

"We have in fact written to the foreign secretary of the British government indicating the Dominica government's decision to end our relationship with the Privy Council and to establish our relationship with the Caribbean Court of Justice in the appellate jurisdiction," Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told reporters.

The CCJ was established in 2001 as the region's highest court replacing the Privy Council. It has both an original and appellate jurisdiction, but while many Caribbean countries are signatories to the original jurisdiction, only Barbados, Guyana and Belize have signed on to the appellate jurisdiction.

In addition, the CCJ serves as an international tribunal interpreting the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member Caribbean Community grouping.

Skerrit said that the island's high commissioner in London had already held talks with the Privy Council "seeking to work out the administrative matters with respect to their final decision on their part".