Chuck calls for resumption of work on Constitutional Reform

Olive branch extended to the Opposition to return to the table 

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Delroy Chuck, is calling for the resumption of constitutional reform, arguing that it is necessary at this time. 

Making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate yesterday, Chuck pointed to The Constitution (Amendment) (Republic) Bill 2024, which has already been tabled to remove the monarch. He called upon interested parties to look at the Bill and see how it can be amended and modified so that this Parliament, at the earliest possible time, can debate the removal of the monarch. 

For Minister Chuck, “There is no need to delay this process. The final appellate court will come to Jamaica, but it is a matter that we want to take to the people in further constitutional townhall meetings. At that point, we can decide definitively on replacements.”

Olive branch extended

He extended the ‘olive branch’ to the Opposition, saying, “We urge and invite the Opposition Leader to let us restart the constitutional reform process.” Guided by proposals from the Constitutional Reform Committee, the government is exploring the implementation of other amendments involving the Electoral Commission of Jamaica and the Office of the Public Defender. 

Minister Chuck explained that the administration has continued the strategic and targeted public education programme on the Constitution. As part of its sustained legal education efforts, the ministry distributed more than 400 copies of the consolidated Constitution to law students.

State Minister in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, who last year handed over the copies, urged first-year law students at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and the University of Technology to be personally invested in conversations around the Constitution and not to be afraid to let their voices be heard.

The objective, Chuck articulated, is to ensure that students, legal practitioners, policymakers and members of the public are all working from one accurate source, rather than having them depend on outdated or piecemeal versions of our Constitution. “We look forward to renewed efforts in the constitutional reform programme, and we anticipate even greater public engagement on this very important matter, he told the House of Representatives.

Constitutional Reform, Human Rights, Law Revision Secretariat and Legal Education are areas that were embraced by the former Ministry of Justice last year, as it transitioned into the new Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. 

In conclusion, Chuck recognised and thanked former Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, who, along with then Permanent Secretary, Wayne Robertson and a team comprising Cabinet Secretary, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade, held several town hall meetings and provided Parliament with a well-documented report by the Constitutional Reform Committee.