Roseau, Dominica – Friday, March 6, 2015 – Dominica established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Paraguay today March 6, 2015. A Joint Communiqué establishing relations between the two countries was signed in New York today by His Excellency Dr. Vince Henderson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of Dominica to the United Nations, and His Excellency Federico A. Gonzalez, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Paraguay to the United Nations.
Under the terms of the communiqué, the two countries expressed a desire to promote mutual understanding and strengthened friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The number of States which maintain diplomatic relations with the Commonwealth of Dominica now stands at ninety-eight (98)
Dominica established diplomatic relations
Dominica to Accede to CCJ on Friday 6th March
The Commonwealth of Dominica will officially accede to the Caribbean Court of Justice on Friday the 6th of March 2015.
The ceremony, set to be held at 10am at the State House Conference Room, will mark the nation’s accession to the appellate jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice replacing the London-based Privy Council.
Prime Minister the Honorable Roosevelt Skerrit says the CCJ is an important instrument of integration and independence as Dominica now has a court that has been designed, and will be managed by nationals.
He notes that this indicates to the world that Dominica is mature enough to handle its own affairs in every facet of development.
The nation’s leader states that contrary to popular belief, the Privy Council is not opposed to this decision.
He said, “They have been encouraging to create our Court and this is what we sought to do. This is what we have done.”
He says that Dominicans will have greater access to justice with much less difficulties in dealing with legal matters.
“With the CCJ as our final Court,” he said “ordinary citizens will have greater access to the CCJ so that at the end of the day, they can feel that justice has been served because they will have another layer.
“Many of us would like to go the Privy Council [but], because of its onerous nature, would not be able to go…”
The Prime Minister called on all to set aside political differences, and give the system a chance.
The CCJ was established in 2001 and has two jurisdictions.
The original jurisdiction, gives the CCJ the exclusive right to interpret the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established CARICOM.
The other, the appellate jurisdiction, serves as a last resort for criminal and civil matters.
Caribbean countries that have signed up for the appellate jurisdiction include Barbados, Belize, Guyana and Dominica.
Dominica approved the Bill to make the CCJ its final appellate court in July 2014.
