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Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Guyanas National Assembly has unanimously approved an amended bill making the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Guyana's final court of appeal.
The bill establishes the court locally and supersedes the Guyana Court of Appeal. The CCJ has original and appellate jurisdiction. This enables citizens and residents of Guyana and companies registered or incorporated there, to appear before the CCJ in certain circumstances. The bill also provides for an appeal to the CCJ from a decision of the Court of Appeal as a right in certain civil proceedings such as divorces, and in civil and criminal proceedings involving the interpretation of the country's Constitution.
Guyana severed ties with the London based Privy Council as its Court of final appeal back in 1970. It adopted the CCJ in keeping with the regions move to a single market economy. But the Privy Council remains the Court of Final appeal for the English speaking Caribbean pending parliamentary acceptance of the CCJ.
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