No human rights problem in Jamaica, says Chuck

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has declared that there are no human rights problems in Jamaica.He made the declaration Wednesday afternoon during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.He was responding to Opposition Spokesperson on Justice Zuleika Jess who, during her contribution to the debate last Wednesday, took Chuck to task while highlighting a range of issues she deemed to be injustice or human rights abuses.“Jamaica does not, and I hope will never have, a human rights problem,” said Chuck. He pointed out that, “We have the Office of the Public Defender. If you have difficulty you can go to the Office of the Public Defender and prosecute any human rights breach. They’re empowered to prosecute any human rights breach”.The justice minister told the Parliament that “human rights are a very important part of this government and of this minister”.“And as I go across the country, I promote the respect for one another’s human rights. And I will continue to do it,” he added.Chuck shared that when Jamaica reported to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, on the Universal Periodic Review, “we got very good commendation”.He also told the opposition that “anyone who claims they need justice in Jamaica needs to have their head examined”.— Lynford Simpson