Yes, the Court of Appeal in Jamaica has the authority to decide whether a case should proceed to the Privy Council. If the Court of Appeal believes that a decision involves a point of law of exceptional public importance and it is desirable in the public interest, it may allow the case to be appealed to the Privy Council¹. However, this decision is not automatic, and the Court of Appeal carefully considers the circumstances before making its determination.

In recent cases, such as the one involving dancehall deejay Vybz Kartel, the Privy Council ruled that the convictions should be quashed due to jury tampering. Now, the Court of Appeal in Jamaica must decide whether it is fair for the no-longer convicted individuals to go through another lengthy trial after spending more than a decade behind bars. The process involves a thorough examination of legal arguments and considerations of justice.

So, while the Court of Appeal can reject a case from proceeding to the Privy Council, it does so after careful evaluation of the legal and public interest aspects of the matter.