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Patterson and Nicholson
THE REPORT on Charter of Rights Bill, which has been before Parliament for the last two years, will finally be tabled in the House today.
A joint select committee of Parliament, chaired by Attorney-General and Minister of Justice A.J. Nicholson has now completed its examination of the draft legislation which will replace Section III of the Constitution dealing with Fundamental Rights.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who brought the Bill to Parliament said yesterday that he was aware of the challenges the committee has confronted in its discussion but that he was confident the report will assist in bringing about consensus on the Charter.
According to him, the Government's underlying objective is to ensure that every citizen of Jamaica can enjoy all the freedoms and exercise those rights which underpin a free and democratic society.
"We can find common ground in this first major overhaul of an entire Chapter of our Independence Constitution...," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying in a Jamaica House statement yesterday.
In a statement to mark International Human Rights Day, which was observed yesterday, the Attorney-General said that the Jamaican Constitution reflects the country's acceptance of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
"That acceptance will be strengthened immensely by the provisions of the new Charter of Rights which will represent Jamaica's further commitment to strive for the creation of a society in which the principles of human rights are fully recognised, respected and adhered to," he said.
New provisions which are being proposed for the Constitution are the right to enjoy a healthy and productive environment and the right of every child to the protection required by its status as a minor.
Also, the Charter proposes that every citizen between the ages of six and 15 years should have the right to be granted a passport, of which he could not be deprived "except by due process of law". The rights of persons charged and detained with criminal offences were being included in the Constitution.
Under these provisions, persons charged and detained are entitled to be visited by their religious counsellor, attorney, family member and medical practitioner.
In his message to mark the day, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister K.D. Knight said that while the country paused to contemplate the international and local action to safeguard human rights, it needed to reflect on its own responsibilities toward the vulnerable in the society.
"I take this opportunity to call upon every Jamaican, including civil society, the private sector, the church to join in the effort to protect the weak, the poor, the disadvantaged, the elderly (and) the children in our society," he said.
