In Jamaican parlance (for those not aware), bulla refers to a dis.

And those in the judicial sector especially have been hit with a big one from British judge Lord Nicholas Phillips who reportedly suggested that Caribbean countries and other Commonwealth nations establish their own final appeal court and stop using the Privy Council.

That's kind of like being invited to dinner and during the post-meal talk, the host starts yawning, looking at his watch or starts making references to getting up early the next morning. In other words, time for you to go. The not-soo-bright will not get it, and will only go when the host literally says, "Well I think I'm going to turn in now." The slightly sharper individual will take the hint before too long and say goodbye. The most prudent ones will have said their adieus long before the host starts getting demonstrative. I think we are in the second group, bordering on the first but definitely not in the third.

CCJ all the way

I'm no legal expert or historian, but this Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which would replace the Privy Council, has been talked about for years. The arguments for and against it are many (trust me, I got a headache from reading articles and columns extolling both sides), but from my little corner of the cosmos, I say CCJ all the way. Why go to a bunch of judges who probably have never even been to the Caribbean and ask them to have the final say in disputes that originated and only affect those of us down here?

Let's look at it this way. Imagine if you can, that we were the big law minds who were the last to hear appeals from others. After an initial period of feeling quite important, wouldn't we get tired when every Rupert, Jacob and Andrea came to us with their problems? I know I would and I totally believe that in many cases I would ask them, "Wha unnu a badda mi fa now?" or "A dis unnu need mi fah?"

AFFORDABILITY

Can we afford the CCJ? Maybe. Will it be perfect? Nope. But which organisation of a similar nature is? If you lost your case after it went to the Privy Council, would you feel better just because those judges heard it? Don't think so. So why not do your sulking closer to home?

P.S. We always knew Jamaicans chat too much so the Government figured it could make money by increasing the tax on phone calls. So those guys with five girlfriends salt now! I can't wait to see if we 'labba' less. Hey, maybe serial phone users should appeal the tax!

Tell me your ruling at daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com.

Kelly