ST. LUCIA-COURT-Court rules St. Lucia needs no referendum before joining CCJ

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that the St. Lucia does not require a referendum before becoming a full member of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court. A number of eminent jurists and the St. Lucia government had sought the advice of the Court to determine whether there was an error in the Constitution that would allow for certain amendments to proceed with before joining the CCJ. "To put it simply the question to be settled was whether governments could proceed with becoming a part of the CCJ simply by obtaining a two thirds House support or that matter should be brought to a referendum where the people could decide for themselves," Senior Council Anthony Astaphan told reporters.