Law students get copies of consolidated Constitution

The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has handed over 300 hard copies of the consolidated Constitution of Jamaica to first-year constitutional law students at The University of the West Indies (UWI).

Minister of State in the ministry, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, made the presentation during a session with first-year law students pursuing constitutional law at the Faculty of Law, UWI, Mona, yesterday.

Dalrymple-Philibert noted that this is the first time since Independence that the Constitution has been comprehensively consolidated, “which means that all amendments from 1962 to the present are now in one single document”.

“This consolidation is very significant. It will ensure that students, practitioners, policymakers, and members of the public are all working from the very same accurate foundation, which is grounded in what the law presently provides, rather than relying on outdated versions or fragmented pieces of amendment,” she said.

“Accuracy is essential to meaningful legal study, informed discussions and credible engagement with constitutional reform. Thoughtful and productive dialogue about our laws must always begin with reliable access to the Constitution itself, and a clear understanding of what the Constitution contains,” she continued.

“That framework, however, is not static. It just doesn’t sit still. It has to be studied, it has to be questioned, and where necessary, it has to be reimagined. The Constitution is meant to be read, to be debated, and to be kept under constant review,” she added.

The state minister said it is hoped that the consolidated Constitution will serve not just as a reference tool, but as an invitation, particularly at this point in the country’s history, to engage critically, to ask the difficult questions, and to contribute thoughtfully to the constitutional and legal future of our country.

“We wish for you that this document will aid you to do so very well, and we wish for you all, as students of this faculty, a successful semester ahead,” she said.

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, had 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 to 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 said.