The Constitution of Jamaica is the legal document that
breathes life into our country it establishes the standing of its citizens,
their fundamental rights and freedoms, the branches of government –Administrative,
Legislative and the Judiciary, their role, authority and boundaries. To swear
allegiance to Jamaica
is to swear to uphold and defend the Constitution. It is therefore unacceptable
for the Prime Minister to declare that he will not be bound by its provisions
because he disagrees with it. It is abhorrent for members of Parliament to
ignore it. And it is totally incredulous to have the Judiciary alter it by
common law ruling.
Any one of these occurrences should be regarded as an
extreme breech of protocol to be condemned in the most forceful manner, yet we
have had all three and still the outcry remains muffled and confused. These
three branches are the highest and most powerful sections of Government. If the
Constitution cannot bind them then what exists to curtail their powers, their benevolence?
Every member of each of these branches takes an oath to
defend and uphold the Constitution, when they fail to do so they undermine
every law of the nation. The specific provision is of no consequence, the
principle is what is important, the Constitution must always rule. If the
provision in the Constitution needs to be altered that power is vested in the
hands of the people either via parliament or by a referendum. Until that occurs
the sovereignty of Jamaica
and its Constitution must be respected
It is time for the chief servant to get out of the political
quagmire and defend the Constitution that he has sworn to uphold. Apologize to
the country on behalf of his party for his ineligible candidates, declare all
the compromised seats vacant and have by-elections.
And lastly in response to Miss Robinson, you are perfectly
correct it is distressing and wrong that 30 million dollars of the tax payer’s money
has been wasted. And since this was caused by candidate’s accepting nominations
for which they were knowingly ineligible. Then such candidates and/or there
party should be required to compensate the people of Jamaica in part or whole, for this
financial waste and also for betraying the trust of the electorate and
dishonoring the Constitution.
