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Delroy Chuck
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has welcomed the judgment handed down on Monday by the Judicial Committee of the UK-based Privy Council in the longstanding Trafigura matter involving former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and other bigwigs of the People’s National Party (PNP).
Chuck, in a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, said it was time for the 15-year-old matter to be brought to an end.
“The case is significant as it brings to an end the legal challenges brought by the appellants to avoid giving evidence in open court. But more importantly the JCPC clarified that section 16(3) of our Constitution applies to proceedings under the Mutual Assistance (Criminal Matters) Act (MACMA). Moreover, the judgment declares the importance of how section 16(3) of the Constitution protects litigants who give evidence in open court,” Chuck stated.
(From left) Senior PNP members Colin Campbell, Portia Simpson Miller, Robert Pickersgill and Phillip Paulwell.
The Judicial Committee of the United Kingdom-based Privy Council has decided that former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and other senior members of the People s National Party (PNP) must give testimony in open court in relation to the now 14-year-old Trafigura matter.
The Privy Council handed down its decision on Monday morning in a 21-page judgment which was published on its website.
In rejecting the appeal filed by the lawyers for the PNP officials to testify in open court, the Law Lords of the Privy Council pointed out that There was no material before the court to lead to the conclusion that a public hearing might jeopardise the investigation in The Netherlands, or any subsequent investigation or proceedings which might follow in Jamaica .
The Judicial Committee of the United Kingdom-based Privy Council is to rule soon on the now 14-year-old Trafigura matter involving former Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, and other senior members of the People s National Party (PNP).
On Monday the committee reserved its judgment following arguments from attorney representing the PNP officials, Alexis Robinson, and the attorney representing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on whether the PNP officials should give testimony in the case in open court or in secret.
While a date was not given for the ruling to be handed down by the UK Privy Council, the court said it will consider the arguments and later issue its decision