Buchanan calls on Chuck to retract or clarify dangerously misleading comments on human rights

I am deeply concerned by recent comments attributed to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Delroy Chuck, in Parliament on Wednesday in which he stated that “Jamaica does not, and I hope will never have, a human rights problem.”

The Minister reportedly went further, suggesting that citizens who experience human rights violations can simply seek recourse through the Office of the Public Defender, asserting that the Office is empowered to prosecute any human rights breach.

That statement is simply not accurate and requires immediate clarification or retraction.  As the Minister of Justice, Mr. Chuck has an obligation to accurately represent the constitutional and legal framework of Jamaica. The Office of the Public Defender does not prosecute human rights violations in the manner suggested by the Minister. The Public Defender investigates complaints, makes recommendations, and reports on breaches of constitutional rights. It is therefore misleading to suggest that citizens whose rights have been violated can simply rely upon that office to prosecute those responsible.

More troubling, however, is the Minister’s assertion that Jamaica does not have a human rights problem. How can such a statement be reconciled with the reality confronting many Jamaicans today?

The right to life, which sits at the very core of our Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, has come under increasing strain. In recent months alone, Jamaica has witnessed numerous fatal encounters involving members of the security forces. Most recently, there have been reports of multiple police-related incidents resulting in the deaths of citizens, including a series of incidents that reportedly left eleven Jamaicans dead within a short period. 

For grieving families, these are not abstract statistics. They are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters whose deaths demand scrutiny, accountability, and transparency. To suggest that Jamaica has no human rights concerns in the face of these realities is to ignore the lived experiences of many citizens and to diminish legitimate public concerns regarding constitutional rights, police accountability, due process, and access to justice.

The Constitution of Jamaica is not self-executing. It requires constant vigilance, respect, and protection from those entrusted with public office. Human rights are not only violated when courts make findings. Human rights concerns arise whenever there are credible allegations of unlawful killings, excessive use of force, arbitrary state action, or infringements on the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution.

As Opposition Spokesperson on Youth and Human Rights, I reject any attempt to trivialise or dismiss these concerns. I therefore call on Minister Chuck to immediately retract or clarify his remarks and to explain how he reconciles his statement with the numerous reports, investigations, and public concerns surrounding alleged constitutional violations and the growing debate about the protection of the right to life in Jamaica.

The Jamaican people deserve honesty from their leaders. They deserve a government that recognizes human rights challenges when they arise and works to address them rather than pretending they do not exist.

Respect for the Constitution demands nothing less.