The Grenada Land Actors Platform has provided an update on its legal matter, the first hearing having taken place on Thursday, June 24^th, 2021.  One can refer to the New Today, edition of July 2^nd, 2021 on page 5 for that update.  I offer the following observations.

1. Precedent, Application for Judicial Review: 

• Precedent:  Whatever the outcome of this case, Grenada Land Actors has set a precedent, requesting a judicial review of the decision of the “authority” which gave permission to  CBI developers, in the name of development, to take actions  which are destroying/have destroyed   our natural assets, sensitive ecosystems and critical wild life habitats for global endangered species, which provide critical services to our communities and people in the areas of La Sagesse, Mt. Hartman and Levera.
  • Coral Cove Development:  The L’Anse-aux-Epines resident/residents has/have decided to follow the example of the Grenada Land Actors and apply for Judicial Review in respect of the Coral Cove Development, recently come to light for most of we the people.  
• Physical Development Authority Application to Strike out GLA’s Legal Claim:  In a response, via the Attorney-General,  the Physical Development Authority, has made a counterclaim requesting  the striking out  of GLA’s  legal claim on the grounds of lack of standing,  expressed in local parlance, “who the hell dey  tink dey is to be challenging the decision of the Authority”.  The Court will decide on the standing of the Grenada Land Actors.  It describes itself as “a nonpartisan network of professionals, Non-Government & Citizen Based Organizations, private landowners, and activists interested in sustainable land management and governance in Grenada”[1].

2. CBI “Developers” Interested in Being Joined  to PDA Counter Claim

• La Sagesse and Mt. Hartman:  Very interestingly, Range Development, La Sagesse and Mt. Hartman developers made application to be joined to the counter claim of the Authority which challenges  the standing of the GLA. Thus, instead of getting on with the business of judicial review, on Thursday, June 24^th, the matter before the court was to decide whether or not Range Development and Mt. Hartman should be joined to the counter claim of the PDA.
• Levera’s Singapore Heng Sheng:  And, lo and behold, on Thursday, June 24^th,  in waltzed representatives of the Levera’s Singpore Heng Sheng  Developers who asked to be allowed to make an oral application to be also joined, as an interested party, to the counter claim  of PDA!! 
• Rules of Natural Justice:  In the name of “rules of natural justice”, the Levera Counsel was allowed to make his oral application and was granted leave to file written submissions since the GLA claim could adversely affect the Levera Development.

So on Thursday, June 24^th, 2021, the matter at hand was not the GLA claim or even the counter claim of the PDA but whether these CBI developers should be joined as interested parties to the PDA claim.   The Levera representatives were given leave to file written submissions for consideration by the Court and the matter adjourned.  The GLA has promised to keep we the people updated re further developments. 

3. Constitutional Reform Bill No. 1 re Directive Principles of State Policy

The application for judicial review by the Grenada Land Actors and the counter claim to dismiss its application on the grounds of  standing takes one  back to the Constitution Reform Bills that were soundly defeated in the referendum  vote  of 2016.  Constitutional Reform Bill No. 1 Fundamental Rights and Principles proposed to broaden the scope of  existing constitutional provisions by inserting a  new chapter, Chapter 1A. to be called Directive Principles of State Policy.  Among the insertions of Chapter 1A were the following:-

• 18A :  Duty of State to Protect Natural Resources:  “The State has a duty to protect the natural resources of the country for  the benefit of the people”.
• 18B:  Duty of the State to protect the environment: “ The State has a duty to protect and preserve the environment; and not let it  suffer degradation”.
• 18D:  Protection against climate change :  “The State has a duty to protect the country against adverse effects of climate”.

In its review of the Constitutional Reform Bills, the Grouping of Civil Society Organisations expressed great concerns and reservations about the proposed Directive Principles:-

• Not Enforceable:  The Directive Principles of State Policy would not be NOT enforceable UNLESS Parliament so decided.  Therefore the principles, though laudable, would not provide any check and balance or any obligations to which Parliament/Executive must adhere.  The Grouping made reference to the following proposed insertions re the Directive Principles 18N(1) and 18N(2).
  • 18N. (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, and subject to the availabilityof resources, and to protection of the public interest, it is the duty of the organs of the State, namely, Parliament, the Executive and the Courts, other institutions of  the State, other public authorities or public bodies functionaries and entities to be guided in the discharge of their functions by the principles set out in this Chapter; for these are directive principles of state policy.
  • (2) Parliament may provide for any of the principles set out in this Chapter to be enforceable in any court or tribunal; and, unless Parliament so provides in respect of any such principle, no principle set outin this Chapter shall be enforceable in any court or tribunal.
• Unable to Apply to the High Court for Relief:  A court  would not be able to enquire into decisions of the State in respect of the Directive Principles, via Directive Principles insertion18 N.  Thus, a citizen would not be able to appeal to the High Court for relief if he/she feels that the principles have been contravened by the State.
  • Section 101 ss (1), Original Jurisdiction of High Court in Constitutional Questions:  Section 101 affords citizens the right to apply to the Court for a declaration of relief if  he/she feels that any provision of the Constitution(other than Chapter 1) has been contravened.
  • Excluding Directive Principles of State Policy from the provisions of section 101:  18N was added to the exclusions re the provisions of the Section 101 (1) of the constitution, thus    taking  away the right of the citizen to apply to Court for relief  if the state breached the Directive Principles
  • What therefore would be the value of the Directive Principles if  they were not enforceable and  citizens could not challenge the state’s contravention of the principles?

During the review process,  the Grouping noted the context, including a 15-0 House of Representatives where there was not any Opposition representation, the policies being pursued by the Executive and the  track record of our Government – its actions on the ground did  not support the lofty statements and commitments it made at the international and regional levels in support of  climate change action and protecting our the environment.    The review by the Grouping questioned what  the Directive Principles would augur for the future given the context.  An agency that was supporting public education on the bills suggested that such queries and concerns created  doubts and fear  and that such questions were inappropriate to the review.  In the current parlance, it suggested that the Grouping “should not go there”!!  The Grouping politely declined the agency’s funding and participation in its education programme.

Those of us who participated  in the review now have the opportunity to reflect on the situation that would have been created should these Directive Principles been approved in the referendum.  Would the GLA have had the opportunity to  make an application for the judicial review, for the Court to adjudicate on this matter?  Or, would the exclusion, that would have been inserted in Section 101, blocked any such action?  Perhaps the constitutional and legal gurus could advise.   But the Grouping can feel absolved  that it raised and shared that those concerns and reservations when it did.

GLA’s action deserves commendation, solidarity and support!  Thank you GLA for creating history and doing your part in “minding the people’s business”.

GRENADA DESERVES BETTER!  WE MUST STAND UP FOR GRENADA!!

[1]https://grenadaland.org/