Jamaica 1962 Constitution (reviewed 2015) - Page 3 of 10

Table of Contents

CHAPTER III. CHAPTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

13. Fundamental rights and freedoms

Whereas-
1. the state has an obligation to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and freedoms;
2. all persons in Jamaica are entitled to preserve for themselves and future generations the fundamental rights and freedoms to which they are entitled by virtue of their inherent dignity as persons and as citizens of a free and democratic society; and
3. all persons are under a responsibility to respect and uphold the rights of others recognized in this Chapter,
the following provisions of this Chapter shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to the rights and freedoms of persons as set out in those provisions, to the extent that those rights and freedoms do not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others.
Subject to sections 18 and 49, and to subsections (9) and (12) of this section, and save only as may be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society-
1. this Chapter guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in subsections (3) and (6) of this section and in sections 14, 15, 16 and 17; and
2. Parliament shall pass no law and no organ of the State shall take any action which abrogates, abridges or infringes those rights.
The rights and freedoms referred to in subsection (2) are as follows-
1. the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in the execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which the person has been convicted;
2. the right to freedom of thought, conscience, belief and observance of political doctrines;
3. the right to freedom of expression;
4. the right to seek, receive, distribute or disseminate information, opinions and ideas through any media;
5. the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association;
6. the right to freedom of movement, that is to say, the right-
  1. of every citizen of Jamaica to enter Jamaica; and
  2. of every person lawfully in Jamaica, to move around freely throughout Jamaica, to reside in any part of Jamaica and to leave Jamaica;
7. the right to equality before the law;
8. the right to equitable and humane treatment by any public authority in the exercise of any function;
9. the right to freedom from discrimination on the ground of-
  1. being male or female;
  2. race, place of origin, social class, colour, religion or political opinions;
10. the right of everyone to-
  1. protection from search of the person and property;
  2. respect for and protection of private and family life, and privacy of the home; ,
  3. protection of privacy of other property and of communication;
11. the right of every child-
  1. to such measures of protection as are required by virtue of the status of being a minor or as part of the family, society and the State;
  2. who is a citizen of Jamaica, to publicly funded tuition in a public educational institution at the pre-primary and primary levels;
12. the right to enjoy a healthy and productive environment free from the threat of injury or damage from environmental abuse and degradation of the ecological heritage;
13. the right of every citizen of Jamaica-
  1. who is qualified to be registered as an elector for elections to the House of Representatives, to be so registered; and
  2. who is so registered, to vote in free and fair elections;
14. the right of every citizen of Jamaica to be granted a passport and not to be denied or deprived thereof except by due process of law;
15. the right to, protection from torture, or inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment as provided in subsections (6) and (7);
16. the right to freedom of the person as provided in section 14;
17. the protection of property rights as provided in section 15;
18. the right to due process as provided in section 16; and
19. the right to freedom of religion, as provided in section 17.
This Chapter applies to all law and binds the legislature, the executive and all public authorities.
A provision of this Chapter binds natural or juristic persons if, and to the extent that, it is applicable, taking account of the nature of the right and the nature of any duty imposed by the right.
No person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment.
Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (6) to the extent that the law in question authorizes the infliction of any description of punishment which was lawful in Jamaica immediately before the commencement of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Act, 2011.
The execution of a sentence of death imposed after the commencement of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Act, 2011, on any person for an offence against the law of Jamaica, shall not be held to be inconsistent with, or in contravention of, this section by reason of-
1. the length of time which elapses between the date on which the sentence is imposed and the date on which the sentence is executed; or
2. the physical conditions or arrangements under which such person is detained pending the execution of the sentence by virtue of any law or practice in force immediately before the commencement of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Act, 2011.
Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (3)(f) of this section and sections 14 and 16(3), to the extent that the law authorizes the taking, in relation to persons detained or whose freedom of movement has been restricted by virtue of that law, of measures that are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during a period of public emergency or public disaster.
A person, who is detained or whose freedom of movement has been restricted by virtue only of a law referred to in subsection (9), may request a review of his case at any time during the period of detention or restriction, but any request subsequent to the initial request shall not be made earlier than six weeks after he last made such a request, and if he makes such a request, his case shall be reviewed promptly by an independent and impartial tribunal which shall be immediately established pursuant to law and presided, over by a person appointed by the Chief Justice of Jamaica from among persons qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
On any review by a tribunal in pursuance of subsection (10), of the case of any person who is detained or whose freedom of movement has been restricted, the tribunal may give directions to the authority by whom such detention or restriction was ordered concerning the continued detention or restriction of movement of that person and the authority shall act in accordance with such directions.
Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law in force immediately before the commencement of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Act, 2011, relating to-
1. sexual offences;
2. obscene publications; or
3. offences regarding the life of the unborn,
shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of the provisions of this Chapter.
In this section “public educational institution” means an all-age school, a pre-primary school or a primary school that is maintained or assisted by the Government.

14. Protection of freedom of the person

No person shall be deprived of his liberty except on reasonable grounds and in accordance with fair procedures established by law in the following circumstances-
1. in consequence of his unfitness to plead to a criminal charge;
2. in execution of the sentence or order of a court whether in Jamaica or elsewhere, in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been convicted;
3. in execution of an order of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeal or such other court as may be prescribed by Parliament on the grounds of his contempt of any such court or of another court or tribunal;
4. in execution of the order of a court made in order to secure the fulfilment of any obligation imposed on him by law;
5. for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court;
6. the arrest or detention of a person-
  1. for the purpose of bringing him before the competent legal authority on reasonable suspicion of his having committed an offence; or
  2. where it is reasonably necessary to prevent his committing an offence;
7. in the case of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years, for the purpose of his care and protection;
8. the detention of a person-
  1. for the prevention of the spreading of an infectious or contagious disease constituting a serious threat to public health; or
  2. suffering from mental disorder or addicted to drugs or alcohol where necessary for his care or treatment or for the prevention of harm to himself or others; or
9. the arrest or detention of a person-
  1. who is not a citizen of Jamaica, to prevent his unauthorized entry into Jamaica; or
  2. against whom action is being taken with a view to deportation or extradition or other lawful removal or the taking of proceedings relating thereto.
Any person who is arrested or detained shall have the right-
1. to communicate with and be visited by his spouse, partner or family member, religious counsellor and a medical practitioner of his choice;
2. at the time of his arrest or detention or as soon as is reasonably practicable, to be informed, in a language which he understands, of the reasons for his arrest or detention;
3. where he is charged with an offence, to be informed forthwith, in a language which he understands, of the nature of the charge; and
4. to communicate with and retain an attorney-at-law.
Any person who is arrested or detained shall be entitled to be tried within a reasonable time and-
1. shall be-
  1. brought forthwith or as soon as is reasonably practicable before an officer authorized by law, or a court; and
  2. released either unconditionally or upon reasonable conditions to secure his attendance at the trial or at any other stage of the proceedings; or
2. if he is not released as mientioned in paragraph (a)(ii), shall be promptly brought before a court which may thereupon release him as provided in that paragraph.
Any person awaiting trail and detained in custody shall be entitled to bail on reasonable conditions unless sufficient cause is shown for keeping him in custody.
Any person deprived of his liberty shall be treated humanely and with respect for the inherent dignity of the person.

15. Protection of property rights

No property of any description shall be compulsorily taken possession of and no interest in or right over property of any description shall be compulsorily acquired except by or under the provisions of a law that-
1. prescribes the principles on which and the manner in which compensation therefor is to be determined and given; and
2. secures to any person claiming an interest in or right over such property a right of access to a court for the purpose of-
  1. establishing such interest or right (if any);
  2. determining the compensation (if any) to which he is entitled; and-
  3. enforcing his right to any such compensation.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the making or operation of any law so far as it provides for the taking of possession or acquisition of property-
1. in satisfaction of any tax, rate or due;
2. by way of penalty for breach of the law, whether under civil process or after conviction of a criminal offence;
3. upon the attempted removal of the property in question out of or into Jamaica in contravention of any law;
4. by way of the taking of a sample for the purposes of any law;
5. where the property consists of an animal, upon its being found trespassing or straying;
6. as an incident of a lease, tenancy, licence, mortgage, charge, bill of sale, pledge or contract;
7. by way of the vesting or administration of trust property, enemy property, or the property of persons adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt or insolvent, persons of unsound mind, deceased persons, or bodies corporate or unincorporate in the course of being wound up;
8. in the execution of judgments or orders of courts;
9. by reason of its being in a dangerous state or injurious to the health of human beings, animals or plants;
10. in consequence of any law with respect to the limitation of actions;
11. for so long may be necessary for the purposes of any examination, investigation, trial or inquiry or, in the case of land, the carrying out thereon-
  1. of work of soil conservation or the conservation of other natural resources; or
  2. of agricultural development or improvement which the owner or occupier of the land has been required and has, without reasonable and lawful excuse, refused or failed to carry out.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the making or operation of any law so far as it-
1. makes such provisions as are reasonably required for the protection of the environment; or
2. provides, for the orderly marketing or production or growth or extraction of any agricultural product or mineral or any article or thing prepared for the market or manufactured therefor or for the reasonable restriction of the use of any property in the interests of safeguarding the interest of others or the protection of tenants, licensees or others having rights in or over such property.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the making or operation of any law for the compulsory taking of possession in the public interest of any property, or the compulsory acquisition in the public interest of any interest in or right over property, where that property, interest or right is held by a body corporate which is established for public purposes by any law and in which no monies have been invested other than monies provided by Parliament.
Where an order is made under any law which provides for the compulsory acquisition of property, the court may have regard to-
1. any hardship that may reasonably be expected to be caused to my person by the operation of the order; or
2. the use that is ordinarily made of the property, or the intended use of the property.
In this section “compensation” means the consideration to be given to a person for any interest or right which he may have in or over property which has been compulsorily taken possession of or compulsorily acquired as prescribed and determined in accordance with the provisions of the law by or under which the property has been so compulsorily taken possession of or acquired.

16. Protection of right to due process

Whenever any person is charged with a criminal offence he shall, unless the charge is withdrawn, be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established by law.
In the determination of a person’s civil rights and obligations or of any legal proceedings which may result in a decision adverse to his interests, he shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court or authority established by law.
All proceedings of every court and proceedings relating to the determination of the existence or the extent of a person’s civil rights or obligations before any court or other authority, including the announcement of the decision of the court or authority, shall be held in public.
Nothing in subsection (3) shall prevent any court or any authority such as is mentioned in that subsection from excluding from the proceedings, persons other than the parties thereto and their legal representatives-
1. in interlocutory proceedings;
2. in appeal proceedings under any law relating to income tax; or
3. to such extent as-
  1. the court or other authority may consider necessary or expedient, in circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice; or
  2. the court may decide to do so or, as the case may be, the authority may be empowered or required by law to do so, in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, the welfare of persons under the age of eighteen years, or the protection of the private lives of persons concerned in the proceedings.
Every person charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until he is proved guilty or has pleaded guilty.
Every person charged with a criminal offence shall-
1. be informed as soon as is reasonably practicable, in a language which he understands, of the nature of the offence charged;
2. have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;
3. be entitled to defend himself in person or through legal representation of his own choosing or, if he has not sufficient means to pay for legal representation, to be given such assistance as is required in the interests of justice;
4. be entitled to examine or have examined, at his trial, witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him;
5. have the assistance of an interpreter free of cost if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court;
6. not to be compelled to testify against himself or to make any statement amounting to a confession or admission of guilt; and
7. except with his own consent, not be tried in his absence unless-
  1. he so conducts himself in the court as to render the continuance of the proceedings in his presence impracticable and the court has ordered him to be removed and the trial to proceed in his absence; or
  2. he absconds during the trial.
An accused person who is tried for a criminal offence or any person authorized by him in that behalf shall be entitled, if he so requires and subject to payment of such reasonable fee as may be prescribed by law, to be given for his own use, within a reasonable time after judgment, a copy of any record of the proceedings made by or on behalf of the court.
Any person convicted of a criminal offence shall have the right to have his conviction and sentence reviewed by a court the jurisdiction of which is superior to the court in which he was convicted and sentenced.
No person who shows that he has been tried by any competent court for a criminal offence and either convicted or acquitted, shall again be tried for that offence or for any other criminal offence of which he could have been convicted at the trial for that offence save upon the order of a superior court made in the course of appeal proceedings relating to the conviction or acquittal; and no person shall be tried for a criminal offence if he shows that he has been pardoned for that offence:Provided that nothing in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this subsection by reason only that it authorizes any court to try a member of a defence force for a criminal offence notwithstanding any trial and conviction or acquittal of that member under service law; but any court so trying such a member and convicting him shall in sentencing him to any punishment take into account any punishment awarded him under service law.
No person shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act or omission which did not, at the time it took place, constitute a criminal offence.
No penalty shall be imposed in relation to any criminal offence or in relation to an infringement of a civil nature which is more severe than the maximum penalty which might have been imposed for the offence or in respect of that infringement, at the time when the offence was committed or the infringement occurred.
If, at the time of sentencing of a person who is convicted of a criminal offence, the penalty prescribed by law for that offence is less severe than the penalty that might have been imposed at the time when the offence was committed, the less severe penalty shall be imposed at the time of sentencing.

17. Protection of freedom of religion

Every person shall have the right to freedom of religion including the freedom to change his religion and the right, either alone or in community with others and both in public and in private, to manifest and propagate his religion in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
The constitution of a religious body or denomination shall not be altered except with the consent of the governing authority of that body or denomination.
Every religious body or denomination shall have the right to provide religious instruction for persons of that body or denomination in the course of any education provided by that body or denomination whether or not that body or denomination is in receipt of any government subsidy, grant or other form of financial assistance designed to meet, in whole or in part, the cost of such course of education.
No person attending any place of education, except with his own consent (or, if he is a minor, the consent of his parent or guardian) shall be required to receive religious instruction, or to take part in or attend any religious ceremony or observance, which relates to a religion or religious body or denomination other than his own.

18. Status of marriage

Nothing contained in or done under any law in so far as it restricts-
1. marriage; or
2. any other relationship in respect of which any rights and obligations similar to those pertaining to marriage are conferred upon persons as if they were husband and wife,
to one man and one woman shall be regarded as being inconsistent with or in contravention of the provisions of this Chapter.
No form of marriage or other relationship referred to in subsection (1), other than the voluntary union of one man and one woman may be contracted or legally recognized in Jamaica.

19. Application for redress

If any person ,alleges that any of the provisions of this Chapter has been, is being or is likely to be contravened in relation to him, then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same. matter which is lawfully available, that person may apply to the Supreme Court for redress.
Any person authorized by law, or, with the leave of the Court, a public or civic organization, may initiate an application to the Supreme Court on behalf of persons who are entitled to apply under subsection (1) for a declaration that any legislative or executive act contravenes the provisions of this Chapter.
The Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear and determine any application made by any person in pursuance of subsection (1) of this section and may make such orders, issue such writs and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for the purpose of enforcing, or securing the enforcement of, any of the provisions of this Chapter to the protection of which the person concerned is entitled.
Where any application is made for redress under this Chapter, the-Supreme Court may decline to exercise its powers and may remit the matter to the appropriate court, tribunal or authority if it is satisfied that adequate means of redress for the contravention alleged are available to the person concerned under any other law.
Any person aggrieved by any determination of the Supreme Court under this section may appeal therefrom to the Court of Appeal.
Parliament may make provision or authorize the making of provision with respect to the practice and procedure of any court for the purposes of this section and may confer upon that court such powers, or may authorize the conferment thereon of such powers, in addition to those conferred by this section, as may appear to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of enabling that court more effectively to exercise the jurisdiction conferred upon it by this section.

20. Interpretation

In this Chapter-
- “contravention”, in relation to any requirement, includes a failure to comply with that requirement, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;
  “court” means any court of law in Jamaica other than a court constituted by or under service law and—
  1. in sections 13(3)(a), 14 and 16 (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7) and (9) (excluding the proviso thereto) of this Constitution includes, in relation to an offence against service law, a court so constituted; and
  2. in section 14 of this Constitution includes, in relation to an offence against service law, an officer of a defence force, or the Police Service Commission or any person or authority to whom the disciplinary powers of that Commission have been lawfully delegated;
  “period of public disaster” means any period during which there is in force a Proclamation by the Governor-General declaring that a period of public disaster exists;
  “period of public emergency” means any period during which-
  
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  Jamaica is engaged in any war;
  
  there is in force a Proclamation by the Governor-General declaring that a state of public emergency exists; or
  
  there is in force a resolution of each House of Parliament supported by the votes of a two-thirds majority of all the members of each House declaring that democratic institutions in Jamaica are threatened by subversion;
  
  “service law” means the law regulating the discipline of a defence force or of police officers.
A Proclamation made by the Governor-General shall not be effective for the purposes of subsection (1) unless it is declared that the Governor-General is satisfied-
1. that a public emergency has arisen as a result of the imminence of a state of war between Jamaica and a foreign State;
2. that action has been taken or is immediately threatened by any person or body of persons of such a nature and on so extensive a scale as to be likely to endanger the public safety or to deprive the community, or any substantial portion of the community, of supplies or services essential to life;
3. that a period of public disaster has arisen as a result of the occurrence of any earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire, outbreak of pestilence, outbreak of infectious disease or other calamity, whether similar to the foregoing or not.
A Proclamation made by the Governor-General for the purposes of and in accordance with this section-
1. shall, unless previously revoked, remain in force for fourteen days or for such longer period, not exceeding three months, as both Houses of Parliament may determine by a resolution supported by a two-thirds majority of all the members of each House;
2. may be extended from time to time by a resolution passed in like manner as is prescribed in paragraph (a) for further periods, not exceeding in respect of each such extension a period of three months;
3. may be revoked at any time by a resolution supported by the votes of a two-thirds majority of all the members of each House.
A resolution passed by a House for the purpose of paragraph (c) of the definition of “period of public emergency” in subsection (1) may be revoked at any time by a resolution of that House supported by the votes of a majority of all the members thereof.
The court shall be competent to enquire into and determine whether a proclamation or resolution purporting to have been made or passed under this section was made or passed for any purpose specified in this section or whether any measures taken pursuant thereto are reasonably justified for that purpose.