Continuation of an article written by Clive Bacchus (WINN)
(see: Sir Dennis Press serves society best when independent of political control)
“The judiciary and the press seek to maintain good governance and the rule of law. And, I note with pleasure, from my little readings on the internet and otherwise, that WINN FM has garnered a regional reputation as a balanced, independent news source. And, it’s perhaps a fitting testament to WINN FM’s first class journalism, that its own senior broadcast journalist Toni, Ms Toni Frederick, was one of only 50 columnists from across the world invited by the US State Department to cover the 2012 Presidential elections,” Sir Dennis said to loud applause.
Addressing the work of the CCJ, Sir Dennis said the institution completed several months in a highly participatory consultative process, involving the judiciary and civil society from across the Caribbean, and this month launched a five- year strategic plan. “We had a major media event to inform the public, and we sought to gain the press interest and attraction to what we have been doing, but you are the first media house that has invited us to feature in an event such as this,” said Sir Dennis, before presenting a copy of the CCJ’s Strategic Plan to WINN.
The Strategic Plan 2013-2017 aims to guide the CCJ’s decision making process and to ensure that resources are applied in the most effective manner. The Port of Spain-based CCJ, now in its seventh year, is recognized by all 15 member states of CARICOM as the only authority to settle Treaty disputes but only Guyana, Barbados and Belize have recognized it as their court of final appeal. Others cling to the London-based Privy Council.
“Our Mission guarantees accessibility, fairness, efficiency, transparency and delivering clear and just decisions in a timely manner. The Plan also identifies the values by which the Court and its staff are guided,” Sir Dennis Byron said.
The CCJ’s plan sets out seven strategic themes: Access to Justice, Independence and Accountability, High Performance Work Environment and Workforce Engagement, Equality, Fairness, Integrity and Promoting the Rule of Law, Organizational Capacity for Caseload Growth, Attaining and Preserving Public Trust and Confidence and Enhancing Regional Justice System Performance. Sir Dennis challenged WINN to look more closely at the CCJ and to play a role in educating the public about its work.
“I would like to challenge WINN FM to address three important areas of public information: reporting on the performance of the court, re-emphasising the institutional arrangements that have guaranteed the independence and competency of the court, and the ascension of St. Kitts and Nevis to the final appellate jurisdiction of the court,” Sir Dennis charged, while pointing out that people with disputes under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy can go directly to the CCJ without going through any other court.
The public doesn’t seem to know how much work the CCJ has been doing in regard to regional integration disputes, Sir Dennis noted while revealing that the court has adjudicated in over seventy matters since its inception.
The CCJ’s website www.caribbeancourtofjustice.org contains detailed information about the organization and addresses the issue of the independence of the court. It notes that a Trust Fund of US $100 million was established and the Court is financed by income from the Fund.
“In this way, the expenditures of the Court, including the remuneration of the Judges, is not dependent on the disposition of governments. As a consequence, the CCJ is the only integration court of its kind financially independent of the largesse of governments and free from their administrative control. The Caribbean Court of Justice Trust Fund is administered by a Board of Trustees drawn from regional entities.”
