Former CCJ Chief Justice warns against being taken in by new Privy Council pitch

Sir Denis Byron, a former President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, has underscored the need for a final appellate court, based in the Caribbean, saying this can serve to drive sustainable development in the region.

This comes in light of the current debate concerning Jamaica's continued ties with the UK based Privy Council as the country's final appellate court.

The opposition People's National Party has maintained that constitutional reform cannot be complete until the Caribbean Court of Justice is adopted as the final appellate court.

Sir Denis, speaking earlier this week with Dionne Jackson Miller, on Radio Jamaica’s Beyond the Headlines, said the issues affecting the economic development, culture and social stability of the Caribbean are outside the comfort zone of the Privy Councilors.

He described as out of order, the invitation for Caribbean judges to sit on the Privy Council.

President of the UK Supreme Court Lord Reed recently highlighted that possible opportunity for judges from countries, like Jamaica, that retain the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as their final court.

Sir Denis said he would be disappointed if ever the invitation was accepted.

He cautioned that there is a lack of equality that would exist between judges from the UK and those from other jurisdictions.