In a landmark ruling, Jamaica’s constitutional court has found that the 2018 detention of Roshaine Clarke under the Emergency Powers Regulations was unconstitutional.
He’s been awarded nearly $18 million in damages.
The court ruled Friday morning that the regulations which governed the State of Emergency then in force in St James was unconstitutional.
The full court of Justices Chester Stamp, Ann Marie Nembhard and Tara Carr handed down the ruling. Justice Stamp delivered the judgement on behalf of the court.
Mr Clarke was detained for more than 200 days under the enhanced security measure.
The court found the regulations breached the Constitution as they provided sweeping powers to abrogate the rights of citizens without sufficient justification.
Mr Clarke has been awarded substantial damages.
Justice Chester Stamp.
He was speaking in the Supreme Court on Friday.
It’s not immediately clear the impact the ruling will have on this morning’s declaration of a State of Public Emergency in St. Catherine.
The parish is currently blanketed by a heavy security presence as a result of the declaration.
Read the full court ruling:
