Dear Editor,
Columnist Hugh Dunbar, in a piece published on August 21, 2016, asserts that Parliament is not the highest court in the land and wonders aloud why no member of the judiciary or a senior civil servant has not corrected “this false statement”.
Well, perhaps the reason why no member of the judiciary or a senior civil servant has corrected “this false statement” is because it isn’t false at all.
Jamaica is now ruled by a Charter of Rights and Freedoms. After many years this was enacted by Parliament. The judiciary is there to interpret this highest law of the land in light of ever-changing circumstances. However, the judiciary has no power to revoke it entirely. Theoretically, only Parliament could do that, highly unlikely as that may be, although it is possible that in the fullness of time our parliamentarians may see it fit to amend aspects of it.
In my book, that makes Parliament the “highest court in the land”.
Errol W A Townshend
Ontario, Canada
ewat@rogers.com
Columnist Hugh Dunbar, in a piece published on August 21, 2016, asserts that Parliament is not the highest court in the land and wonders aloud why no member of the judiciary or a senior civil servant has not corrected “this false statement”.
Well, perhaps the reason why no member of the judiciary or a senior civil servant has corrected “this false statement” is because it isn’t false at all.
Jamaica is now ruled by a Charter of Rights and Freedoms. After many years this was enacted by Parliament. The judiciary is there to interpret this highest law of the land in light of ever-changing circumstances. However, the judiciary has no power to revoke it entirely. Theoretically, only Parliament could do that, highly unlikely as that may be, although it is possible that in the fullness of time our parliamentarians may see it fit to amend aspects of it.
In my book, that makes Parliament the “highest court in the land”.
Errol W A Townshend
Ontario, Canada
ewat@rogers.com