Public education events to sensitize residents on CCJ

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 29TH 2011 (CUOPM) – A series of public education events aimed at sensitizing the public in St. Kitts and Nevis about the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) starts on Monday 29th August.

The events precede the swearing in on Thursday 1st September of native-born Sir Dennis Byron as Chief Justice of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The objectives are to provide information about the institutional arrangements that underpin the Court, give some indication of how the Court has been operating in practice (with examples of original and appellate jurisdiction judgments) and to underscore the importance of a final appellate Court being sited in the Caribbean.

Each objective will be presented by a different judge, who will be allowed a maximum of 10-15 minutes to present. This format will be adopted for each meeting, allowing more time for questions and answers on the various topics specific to each group.

Officials of the CCJ are in Nevis Monday 29th August for discussions with non-governmental organizations including hoteliers, businessmen, the Nevis Christian Council, the Nevis Evangelical Association.

A Town Hall Meeting is scheduled at the Nevis Red Cross Building to which the general public has been invited.

On Tuesday, the Open Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) is the venue for a Workshop and Press Conference.

This will be followed by separate meetings with principals and teaches of schools in St. Kitts, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Mark Brantley, Registrar Ms. Janine Harris and the members of the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association.

On Wednesday, the CCJ officials meet with the St. Kitts Christian Council and the St. Kitts Evangelical Association, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas; students of the secondary and Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC); the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union.

A Public Lecture is planned at the UWI Open Campus on Wednesday afternoon starting at 5:30.

According to the CCJ website, the Mission of the Caribbean Court of Justice is to perform to the highest standards as the supreme judicial organ in the Caribbean Community.

In its original jurisdiction it ensures uniform interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, thereby underpinning and advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

As the final court of appeal for member states of the Caribbean Community it fosters the development of an indigenous Caribbean jurisprudence.