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Monday 13th June 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 7<br />
Formal process towards CCJ underway<br />
By Everton Barnes<br />
The government has followed<br />
up on its commitment<br />
to see Antigua and Barbuda<br />
delink from the Judicial Committee<br />
of the Privy Council<br />
(JCPC) as its final court of<br />
appeal to acceding to the <strong>Caribbean</strong><br />
Court of Justice in its<br />
Appellate Jurisdiction.<br />
Last Friday, the government<br />
introduced into the<br />
House of Representatives two<br />
pieces of legislation - the Constitution<br />
(Antigua and Barbuda)<br />
Referendum Bill and the<br />
Constitution of Antigua and<br />
Barbuda (<strong>Caribbean</strong> Court of<br />
Justice) (Amendment) Act –<br />
which is the formal signal that<br />
the process towards adopting<br />
the CCJ is fully underway.<br />
“By introducing the two<br />
bills in parliament, the government<br />
is setting the legal<br />
framework for the conduct of<br />
a referendum that will seek to<br />
The Department of Environment will<br />
be conducting surveys within the McKinnon’s,<br />
Yorks and Gambles communities<br />
over the next two weeks.<br />
This survey will assist with data<br />
collection for the proposed “lntegrated<br />
approach to physical adaptation and<br />
community resilience in Antigua and<br />
Barbuda’s northwest McKinnon’s watershed”<br />
project.<br />
This project focuses on increasing the<br />
resilience of the communities to climate<br />
change through three components:<br />
1.Upgrade urban drainage and waterways<br />
to meet projected climate change<br />
impacts<br />
abolish the JCPC as the country’s<br />
final appeal court. As<br />
this is entrenched in the Constitution<br />
changing it requires<br />
a two-thirds majority in the<br />
House of Representatives and<br />
a two-thirds majority of the<br />
people who vote in a referendum<br />
in order for it to be take<br />
place,” he explained.<br />
Further, Benjamin added<br />
Joanna Paris<br />
The Royal Police Force of Antigua and<br />
Barbuda will be begin training a number of<br />
new recruits shortly. Twenty three persons<br />
have already been chosen for the exercise<br />
with plans being made to swear in more individuals<br />
ahead of the six month preparation<br />
process.<br />
This forms part of efforts, as the force<br />
seeks strengthen its numbers to further curtail<br />
illicit activities in the twin island nation.<br />
In an interview with local media, Superintendent<br />
of Police, Atlee Rodney, said that the<br />
that the government is putting<br />
things in place to ensure that<br />
the measure is approved by<br />
the people when they vote. He<br />
said already several interest<br />
groups have indicated a willingness<br />
to work along with<br />
the government in its public<br />
education campaign designed<br />
educate the public about the<br />
JCPC and the CCJ.<br />
2.Revolving Loans for homes in<br />
McKinnon’s watershed to meet new<br />
adaptation guidelines established in the<br />
building code and physical plan<br />
3. Adaptation mainstreaming and capacity<br />
building NGOs and community<br />
groups to sustain project interventions<br />
Climate change has been on the forefront<br />
of many discussions and its impacts<br />
have deleterious affects on the communities,<br />
particularly individuals who may be<br />
classified as vulnerable.<br />
This pilot project will focus on assisting<br />
the vulnerable persons within this<br />
community to adapt to climate change<br />
through innovative means.<br />
The AG said the campaign<br />
will be launched in earnest<br />
right after the annual Carnival<br />
festivities with the referendum<br />
likely to take place in<br />
October this year. The National<br />
Coordinating Committee<br />
headed by Ambassador Dr.<br />
Clarence Henry was appointed<br />
to spearhead the public education<br />
campaign.<br />
Police recruits to begin training soon<br />
training will be facilitated by local officers.<br />
He added that the recruits will be trained<br />
in several areas to include: basic drills, physical<br />
fitness, criminal law and procedures, customer<br />
service, sociology and police procedures<br />
as well as handling domestic violence<br />
and cybercrime.<br />
Superintendent Rodney indicated that the<br />
full training package in currently being prepared.<br />
The law enforcement agency continues<br />
to receive kudos from government officials<br />
and members of the public for the increase<br />
efficiency in its operations.<br />
Department of Environment conducting surveys in<br />
the McKinnon’s, Yorks and Gambles communities<br />
Funding from this project will be<br />
sourced through the Adaptation Fund,<br />
and the surveys, along with the consultations,<br />
which will follow, will add credence<br />
to the project and assist with its<br />
eventual funding and implementation.<br />
This project is being developed with<br />
the collaboration of the Directorate of<br />
Gender Affairs, National Office of Disaster<br />
Services, Development Control Authority,<br />
APUA, and other key partners.<br />
The Department of Environment<br />
therefore seeks the collaboration of the<br />
members of the McKinnons, Yorks and<br />
Gambles communities as we seek to ride<br />
the climate wave.