300 UWI Law Students Receive the Consolidated Constitution of Jamaica from the MJCA

Kingston, Jamaica: Today some 300 first-year law students from the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies received their own personal copies of the consolidated Constitution of Jamaica, as part of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs’ (MJCA) efforts to advance constitutional reform and promote legal education.

The hard copies contain a consolidated version of the nation’s supreme law. They contain all amendments from 1962 to present in a single document. The publication was symbolically presented in the national colours, reaffirming a sense of national pride among its users.

Speaking at a handover ceremony held on the Mona campus, State Minister, the Hon. Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, highlighted the significance of the consolidated document, underscoring the importance of access, accuracy, and shared understanding in the practice of law.

“This consolidated Constitution ensures that students, practitioners, policymakers, and members of the public are all working from the same accurate foundation, grounded in what the law currently provides, rather than relying on outdated versions or fragmented amendments,” Dalrymple-Philibert said.

“Accuracy is essential to meaningful legal study, informed public discussion, and credible engagement with constitutional reform. Thoughtful and productive dialogue about our laws must begin with reliable access to the Constitution itself and a clear understanding of its content,” the State Minister continued.

 

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The State Minister also highlighted the importance of in-depth academic study of how the Constitution informs the relationship between people and the state, serving as the enduring framework for the lawful exercise of public power.

Dalrymple-Philibert further noted that the Constitution is meant to be read, debated, and kept under constant review, charging students to maintain an appreciation for its underlying principles and spirit, even beyond their academic studies and into their professional lives. She stressed the critical role the Constitution plays in safeguarding democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law.

“The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs remains firmly committed to supporting legal education that is accessible, empowering, and capable of fostering the critical engagement required for constitutional and legal reform,” she said.

She charged the students that it is the hope of the Ministry that “this consolidated Constitution will serve not only as a reference tool, but as an invitation to engage critically, to ask difficult questions, and to contribute thoughtfully to Jamaica’s constitutional and legal future.”

In the meantime, President of the Mona Law Society, Malieck Kirton, expressed gratitude to the Ministry for the donation and indicated that it will be a great help for students who in the past would have to purchase their own copy of the national document.

“This is particularly significant for our first-year students who will be starting constitutional law today,” Kirton shared.

“Normally, during this time at the start of the semester, the cohort would have the travel to Duke Street to purchase their copies of the Constitution. Now they will have a copy from the get-go, without the cost or inconvenience,” he concluded.