Approximately 40 per cent of eligible voters believe that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) should replace the United Kingdom-based Privy Council as Jamaica's last court of appeal, the latest Stone Poll has found.
But the pollsters also found that a significant 36 per cent of the persons surveyed had no clear view on the matter.

The poll was conducted December 8-10, using a representative sample of 1,504 eligible voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent.
The CCJ was inaugurated on April 16, 2005 as the court of final resort in criminal and civil matters for Caricom countries. However, it has been mired in controversy in Jamaica which has not yet joined the Court because of a Privy Council ruling that the Government's approach to establishing the Court was unconstitutional.

The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which opposes the establishment of the Court, has insisted that the matter be put to a referendum.

Critics of the CCJ, which also has original jurisdiction over issues relating to the operation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, have questioned the quality of jurisprudence in the region and have argued that the Court will fall under the influence of politicians.

Human rights advocates also said that it will be a hanging court and a way for regional governments to get around several recent Privy Council rulings that have circumscribed their ability to hang.
Stone, in their report of the December survey, made note of the disagreement between the JLP and PNP.

Stone said that when they asked voters whether they thought that the Privy Council should be replaced with the CCJ as the final court of appeal for all civil and criminal matters, approximately 40 per cent said yes, while 24 per cent said no.

Added Stone: "While these results indicate a more positive than negative attitude towards the idea of having the CCJ as the final court, a significant 36 per cent did not have a clear view on the matter."

Question:
Should the UK Privy Council be replaced with the CCJ as Jamaica's final court of appeal?

Answers:
Yes 39.6%
No 24.3%
Don't know/no response 36.1%

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