Page A2 of your September 25 issue carried a question by former minister of justice A.J Nicholson: "Have we no shame?" I expected a flood of letters to you from the many of us who must certainly be in complete agreement with his comments as reported.

It beats me how we can expect a group of judges sitting many miles away in London to determine the legality of court decisions made here in Jamaica. Have you ever wondered how often cases have been handled hurriedly by the Privy Council because "it's just those bothersome ex-colonials taking up our valuable time?" If you haven't, I most certainly have.

Now, before anyone accuses me of ultra-nationalism, let me set the record straight. I have no problem with Her Majesty being queen of Jamaica so long as she remembers that "it is a different crown and throne that she needs to wear and occupy down here". My quarrel is with having the British Privy Council as our final court of appeal.

Legal luminaries

What is wrong with having our own Caribbean court of appeal? We are not at all short of legal luminaries in the Caribbean, and among those who have worked their way up through careers in the legal system are to be found many suitable candidates for our highest court. This solution has been under discussion and then shelved far too often since Independence.

We need to grow up! 1962 passed 47 years ago and yet we are still clinging to the apron strings of our old 'colonial mamma'. Come on, let's throw away the diapers and start wearing our own trousers down here.

I am, etc.,

DERRYCK PENSO