Caribbean Court of Justice rules in Barbados case

| 05/10/2013

(Caribbean Journal): In a landmark decision, the Caribbean Court of Justice has ruled in favour of Jamaican national Shanique Myrie in her lawsuit against the government of Barbados. Myrie had brought an action in 2012 against Barbados alleging maltreatment at the Grantley Adams International Airport that included what she alleged was an inappropriate bodily search and unlawfully deported. The CCJ awarded her $37,500 USD in damages to be paid by the government of Barbados. The CCJ found that Myrie had been wrongfully denied entry into Barbados, subjected to a “humiliating cavity search” and had been unlawfully detained overnight in a cell and expelled from the country.

The judgment has major significance for a court that is seeking to gain legitimacy within a region most of whose governments still retain the UK Privy Council as their final court of appeal.

The court had jurisdiction because Myrie had alleged a breach of CARICOM law, namely her right to free movement within CARICOM under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    This shocking treatment at airports has caused me to stop any form of air travel. The rude people at Grand Cayman airport reducedmy 5 year old daughter to tears with their shocking and insensitive behaviour. Screw them.

    I remember another incident when I had some essential oils as a present in a clear plastic gift pouch. The morons insisted that I put it into another clear plastic bag.

    • SSM345 says:

      "This shocking treatment at airports has caused me to stop any form of air travel."

      You must have some pretty boring holidays then.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I am surprised Cayman has not had a similar law suite. Have you seen how poorly our Immigration officers treat visitors on arrival? They act like they are doing them a favor, rather than welcoming them with a smile and heart filled "Cayman Welcome." They are the Islands first and last impression, and a poor one at that.   

  3. Anonymous says:

    Utterly irrelevant.

    • J Salasi I. -111? says:

      Pray tell sah , your two words don't tell a story. Enlighten us as to the irrelevancy of the judgment, the case or the body who passed judgment. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Well, let's see, a Court with no jurisdiction over Cayman rules on free movement rights that don't apply to Cayman and never will. Utterly irrelevant.