Jamaicans for Justice, JFJ, is welcoming the Supreme Court’s ruling that the frequent use of States of Emergency, SOEs, was unconstitutional.
In a release on Friday, the human rights lobby group says the ruling validates its concerns that the SOEs sought to undermine the constitutional rights of citizens.
JFJ has strongly criticised the frequency of SOEs, consistently describing the tool as a deliberate breach of good governance.
The group also expressed disappointment at the government’s announcement that it’s appealing the ruling.
It says the posture disregards the court’s clear findings on constitutional violations and risks perpetuating unlawful practices that harm vulnerable Jamaicans.
Pointing to information it received from the Ministry of National Security, JFJ says 43 people were detained under SOE between November 2022 and March 2023.
It says of the 43 people, only three detentions yielded charges. This, it says, questions the very efficacy of the SOE as a crime-fighting tool.
Additionally, JFJ says it received over 100 complaints from people who were detained without charges under SOEs between 2018 and 2020.
It says several of whom suffered devastating consequences, including job loss, eviction from their homes, and severe medical complications exacerbated by prolonged detention.
JFJ says while it acknowledges the need to address the country’s crime monster, that fight should not erase the rights of Jamaicans.
The lobby group is also calling on the government to support those unlawfully detained under SOEs between 2018 and 2023, who are seeking compensation.
Read Court Ruling Below:
