Roseau, Dominica – Monday, June 30, 2014 – The Sixth Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament under the Commonwealth of Dominica Constitution gets underway at 10:00am on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at the House of Assembly on Victoria Street, Roseau. At that meeting, Minister for Tourism and Legal Affairs, Honourable Ian Douglas will move a motion for the second and third reading of an act to amend the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica to facilitate the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice as the Final Court of Appeal in Dominica and to provide for related matters.
The first reading of the act took place at the Fifth Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, following which a 90 day period had to elapse before the second and third readings. Prime Minister of Dominica the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit announced in January 2014, that Dominica had received no objection from the Government of the United Kingdom to move away from the Privy Council and recognize the CCJ as the final appellate court.
“We believe that the Caribbean Court of Justice is the best thing for justice in Dominica and justice in the Caribbean. It will allow for greater access to the courts…. We believe that it will cause for there to be a greater justice for all our citizens in Dominica and the Caribbean and it is a mature move, it is a responsible move, it is a progressive move and it is a move towards gaining our full and outright independence as a people, as a country and as a region.” Prime Minister Skerrit stated. Other items on the other paper include, Minister Ian Douglas will present the Discover Dominica Authority audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2012 while Minister for Information,Telecommunications and Constituency Empowerment Honourable Ambrose George will present the Dominica Broadcasting Corporation financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2012.
