Constitutional Reform Matters
The Editor SIR, Recently there has been much furore about the inclusion of a pro-abortion, pro-LGBT Canadian Professor of Constitutional Law on the Constitutional Reform Committee. The responses to these concerns have been interesting. Some, including the Minister of Constitutional Affairs, say that his pro-evil stances don’t matter; and that he is a specialist in the area of constitutional law; which we need. Worldviews Matter Are we really to believe that what the members of the reform committee believe isn’t important? Professor Richard Albert’s accolades form a long procession behind him. He is a brilliant mind and a scholar at his craft. But we would be foolish to believe that his deeply held beliefs can be separated from his amazing intellect. In fact, one’s intellectual and technical abilities are the means by which one’s worldview is applied and bridge the gap between the mental and the structural. As such, the very first thing which came to the fore, and which ought to have come to the fore related to the worldviews of committee members. If the Minister thought that she could select a pro-homosexual, pro-abortion man, from Canada no less, without any concern from the Jamaican people, she has deeply misjudged the intellect and spirit of the Jamaican people. Communication Matters In seeking to address the concerns voiced by the Christian organizations and church leaders, Minister of Information Robert Morgan noted “The government has not indicated that this constitutional reform process will distrub such wide ranges of issues [such as buggery and abortion]. Our intention as articulated by the Prime Minister is pretty much to focus on the republic status of Jamaica”. Pretty much? The use of the phrase does not inspire transparency, clarity or trust. It would have been better for the Minister of Information to inform the public that the constitutional reform will occur in three phases: 1. Creating Republican Status 2. Examining the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms 3. Crafting A New Constitution. Phase three more fulsomely […]
