Law Students Receive Copies of Consolidated Constitution of Jamaica

The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has handed over 300 hard copies of the Consolidated Constitution of Jamaica to first-year Constitutional Law Students at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, made the presentation during a session with first-year law students pursuing Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law, UWI, Mona, on January 19.

Mrs. Dalrymple-Philibert informed that this is the first time since independence that the Constitution has been comprehensively consolidated, “which means that all amendments from 1962 to the present are now in one single document”.

“This consolidation is very significant. It will ensure that students, practitioners, policymakers, and members of the public are all working from the very same accurate foundation, which is grounded in what the law presently provides, rather than relying on outdated versions or fragmented pieces of amendment,” she said.

“Accuracy is essential to meaningful legal study, informed discussions and credible engagement with constitutional reform. Thoughtful and productive dialogue about our laws must always begin with reliable access to the Constitution itself, and a clear understanding of what the Constitution contains,” she continued.

The State Minister further noted that the Ministry also took a deliberate decision to present the consolidated version of the Constitution in the national colours of Jamaica.

“The choice was both symbolic and intentional. Our Constitution, as a national document, reflects our history, our values, and our aspirations as a people of this country. As has been aptly observed in constitutional scholarship, constitutions structure the relationship between individuals and institutions of government and provide a continuing framework for the legitimate exercise of public power,” she said.

“That framework, however, is not static. It just doesn’t sit still. It has to be studied, it has to be questioned, and where necessary, it has to be reimagined. The Constitution is meant to be read, to be debated, and to be kept under constant review,” she added.

Furthermore, the State Minister said the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs remains firmly committed to supporting legal education that is accessible, empowering, and capable of fostering the critical engagement required for constitutional and legal reform.

“As you begin this semester, and indeed as you progress through your legal studies and your professional lives, you will, therefore, encounter many opportunities to shape Jamaica’s constitutional development and government outcomes,” she said.

“Legal education should equip you not only to understand the text of the Constitution but also to appreciate the underlying principles, its spirit, and its role in safeguarding democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law,” the State Minister argued.

She said it is hoped that the consolidated Constitution will serve not just as a reference tool but as an invitation, particularly at this point in the country’s history, to engage critically, to ask the difficult questions, and to contribute thoughtfully to the constitutional and legal future of our country.

“We wish for you that this document will aid you to do so very well, and we wish for you all, as students of this faculty, a successful semester ahead,” she said.
Expressing gratitude for the updated copies, Professor Tracy Robinson of the Faculty of Law said the document is important to all, not just students studying law.

“I think it’s important that the work of this Ministry has included not just providing support to the State on constitutional affairs but an engagement with reforming and changing it,” she said.