The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has dismissed the first Original Jurisdiction application filed by Dominican national, Cabral Douglas after Dancehall artiste Tommy Lee Sparta was denied entry into Dominica for a concert in 2014.
Douglas, an event organizer, claimed that his country, Dominica, caused a breach of his contract with the “Uncle Demon” deejay, real name Leroy Russell. Douglas alleged that Dominica’s action also caused multiple violations of his rights under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC). On Monday, the Trinidad-based court ruled that he had failed to prove a breach of treaty rights which were intended to benefit him directly. The Court emphasized that it was not possible to access the Original Jurisdiction merely because another person’s rights under the Treaty may have been breached.
The Montego Bay-based deejay was scheduled to perform at a concert organised by Douglas on February 23, 2014 in Dominica. Upon his arrival Tommy Lee Sparta was denied entry to the island with three members of his team, they were all detained and deported the following day, the Dominican Government cited public safety concerns.
