Law

How the Caribbean Court of Justice Is Going Digital

Why Jamaica Is at a “Critical” Juncture in Its History

CCJ vote looms By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica is approaching a “critical juncture in its history,” according to Justice Minister Mark Golding. That’s because the country’s Senate will soon debate three bills that would amend the constitution to entrench …

The US Virgin Islands Is Suing Hess for $1.5 Billion

A major lawsuit By the Caribbean Journal staff The US Virgin Islands government is suing the Hess Corporation for shuttering the HOVENSA refinery in 2012, Governor Kenneth Mapp announced Monday. According to a complaint filed in Superior Court, the USVI is …

A New Judge at the Caribbean Court of Justice

Above: new Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee (left) By the Caribbean Journal staff The Port-of-Spain-based Caribbean Court of Justice has its newest member. Trinidad President Anthony Carmona officially swore in Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee last week. Rajnauth-Lee is a native of Trinidad and …

Dominica Officially Joins Caribbean Court of Justice

Above: Dominica (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The Caribbean Court of Justice has a new member state: Dominica. The Eastern Caribbean island has officially acceded to the CCJ as its final court of appeal, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit …

Jamaica’s Parliament to Vote on Move to Caribbean Court of Justice

Above: the Caribbean Court of Justice in Port of Spain By the Caribbean Journal staff Since it gained independence in 1962, Jamaica’s final court of appeal has been the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. That could change, …

Bahamas Swears in Deborah Fraser as New Supreme Court Justice

Above: Deborah Fraser is sworn in (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson) By the Caribbean Journal staff The Bahamas has sworn in Deborah Fraser as the country’s newest Supreme Court Justice. Fraser was sworn in by Deputy to the Governor General Oswald Ingraham …

British Virgin Islands: New Arbitration Act Set to Come into Force

Above: the British Virgin Islands By the Caribbean Journal staff The British Virgin Islands’ new Arbitration Act is set to come into force in October. In a statement, the territory’s government said it would “usher in a modern era for …

Dominica’s Parliament Approves Bill to Make CCJ Final Court of Appeal

Above: Dominica (Caribbean Journal photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Dominica’s Parliament has approved a bill to make the Caribbean Court of Justice the country’s final court of appeal. Speaking to the House of Assembly this week, Dominica Prime Minister …

Puerto Rico Swears In New Chief Justice of Supreme Court

Above: the swearing in ceremony (Photo: OG Puerto Rico) By the Caribbean Journal staff Judge Liana Fiol Matta has been sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Fiol Matta was appointed by Puerto …

Op-Ed: Why Do Legal Cases in Jamaica Take So Long?

By David Rowe Op-Ed Contributor THERE ARE a number of big legal cases which have attracted the attention of Jamaicans both locally and overseas in recent months, most notably the recently-concluded Vybz Kartel case. What’s noteworthy about almost all of …

Jamaica to Begin Debate on Caribbean Court of Justice

Above: the Caribbean Court of Justice By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica’s Parliament will soon begin debate on the country’s potential accession to the Caribbean Court of Justice. The House of Representatives will begin debating two bills: an act to …

Jamaican Ambassador to United States Visits University of Miami

Above: Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie, Adjunct Professor David Rowe, Deputy Consul General Don James and Associate Dean for Adjunct Faculty Douglas Bischoff (Photo: University of Miami) By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaican Ambassador to the United States Stephen Vasciannie paid a …

Cayman Swears in Two New Judges

Above: Acting Governor Franz Manderson and New Court of Appeal Judge Sir Richard Ground (Photo: GIS) By the Caribbean Journal staff A pair of new judges for the territory have been sworn in by Acting Cayman Islands Governor Franz Manderson. Sir …

Op-Ed: Why Venezuela Ought to Reconsider Its Withdrawal From ICSID

By Alexander G Leventhal Op-Ed Contributor IN JANUARY OF 2012, Venezuela announced that it would withdraw from the ICSID convention, a 1966 treaty that established an arbitration and conciliation institution based in Washington, DC to deal with international investment disputes. …

Op-Ed: The Privy Council Conundrum

By David Rowe Op-Ed Contributor JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER Portia Simpson-Miller commenced her administration with a political proposal of constitutional ramifications, announcing the government’s intention to remove the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as Jamaica’s final Court of Appeal. The …

Haiti Prime Minister Wins Defamation Case Against US Web Site

Above: Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe (Photo: OPM Haiti) By the Caribbean Journal staff Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe has won a court judgment in his defamation case against US-based Web site “Haiti Observateur,” according to federal court records. The …

Op-Ed: David Smith’s Bid for Parole: A Test for Turks and Caicos

By Robert Di Pano Op-Ed Contributor IT WOULD BE in the best interest of the Turks and Caicos Islands from an enforcement standpoint to deny convicted Caribbean Ponzi schemer David Smith’s application for parole. The Governor and Parole Board members …

Bahamians Vote Against Legalizing “Web Shop” Gaming, National Lottery

Above: Nassau (CJ Photo) By Alexander Britell Bahamians voted by a wide margin Monday to reject a measure that could have legalized and regulated so-called “web shop” gaming establishments, according to preliminary tallies. Bahamian voters also rejected a measure to …