Patterson and Seaga BUOYED BY the recent controversial ruling of the UK-based Privy Council, the Government is expected to resume debate on the establishment of a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in Parliament, this afternoon.
Debate on the resolution was suspended in March, after Opposition Leader Edward Seaga called for a national referendum before a final decision is made.
Mr. Seaga argued that to establish the CCJ as a superior court, judgments of which would bind the Jamaican Court of Appeal, would require amending Section 103 of the Jamaican Constitution. He said that the amendment would require an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of all Members of Parliament or, failing which, a majority of at least two-thirds of the electorate voting in a referendum.
Mr. Seaga warned that the Oppo-sition would abolish the CCJ in the future, unless it was app-roved by a referendum.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who is piloting the resolution, called for a suspension of the debate following Mr. Seaga's contribution, stating that it was a matter in which the Government would seek unanimity. He has also rejected the proposal for a referendum.
More recently, the ruling of the Privy Council, in favour of six Jamaicans who had been condemned to death for committing murder, has signalled a revival of the debate.
Prime Minister Patterson has criticised the Privy Council's ruling in the case of the six condemned prisons. He said that the matter would have been discussed at yesterday's Cabinet meeting.
Mr. Seaga is supporting the Privy Council's ruling.
