BY AMBASSADOR CURTIS A. WARD
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ambassador Curtis A. Ward is a former Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations with Special Responsibility for Security Council Affairs (1999-2002) serving on the UN Security Council for two years.)
(9 August 2021) — Jamaica’s celebration of 59 years of independence gained from Great Britain on August 6, 1962, also is a celebration of its democratic traditions now spanning two generations. Trinidad & Tobago, gaining independence a little over three weeks later, also celebrates its 59 years anniversary and its unbroken democratic history. But even as the people of these two countries celebrate political independence and emancipation from slavery during what has become for Jamaicans six days of celebration (Emancipation Day – August 1 to Independence Day – August 6, or ‘Emancipendence’) Jamaica and T&T are yet to achieve full nationhood. After 59 years as independent democratic countries, both remain shackled to their colonial past.
Jamaica is not the final arbiter of its jurisprudence, and its allegiance to its colonial master remains a blight on the country’s independence. The UK Privy Council (The House of Lords) sitting in London remains both Jamaica’s and T&T’s court of final resort. It lords over the justice systems of both countries. The irony for T&T is that the Caribbean Court of Justice intended to replace the House of Lords is sited in Port of Spain. The people of Jamaica and T&T are being denied easy affordable access to final justice.
As for Jamaicans, the queen of England resident in Buckingham Palace, represented by the Governor General who resides at Kings House in Jamaica’s capital city, is the Head of State of Jamaica. Trinidad & Tobago made that break from Great Britain in 1976 when it became a republic. I applaud the government and people of Barbados, already having accepted the CCJ as its highest court, is now moving expeditiously to make the final break with Great Britain. Notably, Barbados gained political independence on November 30, 1966, some four years after both Jamaica and Trinidad &Tobago.
Ironically, Jamaican governments, particularly when led by the People’s National Party, are strong global advocates for the right of self-determination and defend the inviolable sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. As a former ambassador and deputy permanent representative of Jamaica to the United Nations, I experienced firsthand this advocacy and the respect it generated globally for Jamaica. Yet, many will argue, myself included, that as a nation Jamaica is yet to complete the process of independence and full sovereignty. I join with those who call on our political leaders to remove this anomaly in our nation’s construct and to do so before the 60th Anniversary of Jamaica’s independence on August 6, 2022. I implore other Caribbean democracies, which are also former British colonies, to also sever these incongruous ties to Great Britain. See complete commentary in THE WARD POST at https://thewardpost.com/oldest-caribbean-democracies-shackled-to-their-colonial-past/
