St. Lucia today stated its intent to become join the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as a full member. The country would therefore be the fifth Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to have full membership of the Trinidad-based court that was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court.
Acting Governor General Cyril Errol Charles, said in his traditional Throne speech that the government is committed to addressing “our destiny as an independent nation, both tacitly and tangibly.”
“This year, St. Lucia will take steps toward the accession to the appellate jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice. We are thus expected to become the fifth CARICOM member state to replace the Privy Council with the CCJ.”
He further said that St. Lucia is also moving towards strengthening regional institutions and that the government intends to strengthen functional cooperation and integration, particularly at the level of the Eastern Caribbean sub-region.
The current members of the CCJ are:
