ST LUCIA’S PARLIAMENT APPROVES ACCESSION TO CCJ

Prime Minister of St Lucia Phillip J Pierre

March 6, 2023 | By Colin O. Jarrett |

The appellate jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice is now St Lucia’s final appeals court.

Prime Minister Hon Phillip J Pierre has completed St Lucia’s more than 20 year’s long journey to join the appellate jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice as our final appeals court for civil and criminal appeals.

The Prime Minister has secured the support of the majority of its Lower House of Parliament to finally move away from Britain’s Privy Council to accede to the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ. Having the CCJ as St Lucia’s final appeals court, will eliminate the cost prohibitive fees associated with the Privy Council and make justice more accessible and more affordable for the citizens of St Lucia.

About the Caribbean Court of Justice – CCJ

Headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago, the Court has two jurisdictions, an Appellate Jurisdiction and an Original Jurisdiction. In its Appellate Jurisdiction, the Court serves as the final court of appeal in civil and criminal matters for those countries of the Caribbean Community which are parties to the Agreement and have acceded to the appellate jurisdiction. In its Original Jurisdiction, the Court if a court of first instance which applies rules of international law in respect of the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

At present, the Court receives cases in its Appellate Jurisdiction from Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Guyana. In the Original Jurisdiction, the court receives cases from twelve Contracting Parties to the Agreement Establishing the Court. Decisions of the CCJ in both its Appellate Jurisdiction and its Original Jurisdiction are final.