CCJ to give Shanique Myrie ruling on Friday

The legal team representing Jamaican Shanique Myrie in her case against the Barbados government says it is anticipating Friday’s judgment.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which heard the case is to hand down its judgment at 10 a.m. via video link from the CCJ’s headquarters in Port of Spain to courtrooms in Barbados and Jamaica.

Michelle Brown , one of the attorney’s representing Myrie, declined to comment on how her client, was doing but  said all were anticipating the ruling by the CCJ.

Myrie, 25, who was granted leave by the CCJ to file the action, alleged that when she travelled to Barbados on March 14, 2011 she was discriminated against because of her nationality, subjected to a body cavity search, detained overnight in a cell and deported to Jamaica the following day.

Myrie also claimed that she was subjected to derogatory remarks by a Barbadian Immigration officer and asked the CCJ to determine the minimum standard of treatment applicable to CARICOM citizens moving around the region.

On September 27 last year, Jamaica was granted leave to intervene in the matter.

Myrie, through her attorneys, informed the CCJ that she could not afford to bring her witnesses to Port- of-Spain for the hearing and therefore she was unable to adequately present her case to the Court.

The CCJ said that it had explored the use of videoconferencing technology to take the evidence of the witnesses, but after consulting with attorneys it was decided that the evidence should be given in person and for this purpose the Court .

Myrie is claiming BD$ 1 million in compensation and is asking the CCJ to determine the minimum standard of treatment applicable to CARICOM (Caribbean Community) citizens moving within the region.

Hearings in the case wrapped up in April after close to two dozen witnesses testified during sittings in Barbados and Jamaica.

The CCJ was established in 2011 to replace to London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court of appeal. It has both an original and appellate jurisdiction and also serves as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy that allows for free movement of within the grouping.