Tue Mar 7, 2006
Charter of Rights discussions delayed indefinitely
A scheduling challenge has led to the postponement of parliamentary discussions on aspects of the proposed Charter of Rights.
A joint select committee of Parliament should have heard the submission of church groups Wednesday, but a sitting of the full House has overtaken plans for the committee to meet.The issue has been fraught with contention from the start.
Several church groups, the Christian Lawyers Fellowship and the opposition Jamaica Labour Party had raised concern that the proposed wording of the charter could leave loopholes for the legalisation of homosexuality and abortion.
Last month, several church groups descended on Parliament to voice their displeasure.They argued then that while the church is not homophobic it could not sit by and allow the total decay of the morals in the country.The joint select committee of Parliament fixed March 2 as the date for the submissions to be made and March 8 as the date for discussion.
But a well placed source has told RJR News that the matter has been postponed and no new date has been set.Parliament's final sitting for this legislative year is scheduled for the end of this month. The ceremonial opening of the New Year will be followed by the tabling of the estimates of expenditure and the budget and sectoral debates.
The coalition of churches has indicated that while it had not met the March 2 deadline for the submission of arguments, it is now ready.The groups are reportedly concerned that the discussion on the Charter of Rights could be delayed until September.
However they are yet to make a formal request for a new date.
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