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
stated will “focus on fully assessing the country’s legal and constitutional infrastructure to facilitate putting
together a new constitution” as stated by the Gleaner on March 22, 2023
. This seems like a wide range of issues
to me! Pretty much!
Perception Matters
Minister Malahoo Forte is noted as saying in a recent Nationwide interview
that she is “embarassed by the
quality of the arguments” being put forward by those concerned about Professor Albert’s appointment. I am still
at a loss as to how Minister Malahoo seemed to have not considered the local environment in which she selected
a Canadian national to sit on this most important committee. The reality is that Professor Albert’s surprising
appointment, like it or not, related or not, came less than six months after the Jamaican government was given a
billion dollars, geared towards changing our country in ways that the Jamaican people do not want. The Minister
must consider the narrative that her actions have continued; Professor Albert is not only a non-national, he is a
non-national from a nation that is rich and powerful; which is seeking to frame our laws and culture in their
image.
The People Matter
In light of these concerns, and taking into consideration the ignoring of Ronald Thwaite’s call
to complete
transparency in CRC deliberations and the lack of clear communication to the public of the boundaries beyond
which the committee cannot go, as a show of good faith, the least that the government can do is make Professor
Albert a consultant and remove his vote around the committee’s table.
I urge the government of Jamaica and especially those related to the efforts to reform our constitution to
consider the importance of worldviews, communication and perception. This could go a long way in letting the
people feel as though they have a say in the process. Isn’t that important?
Dr. Daniel Thomas
Daniel Thomas is a medical doctor and youth advocate and serves as President of the Love March Movement a
youth NGO in Jamaica.