Jamaica’s Court dismisses challenge to gay law

The Supreme Court of Jamaica has ruled that the saving law provision in the Constitution of Jamaica precludes an investigation of the validity of three parts of the Offences Against the Person Act, therefore gay rights campaigner Maurice Tomlinson’s appeal to the buggery legislation is dismissed by the judgement.

Justice David Bratts delivered the unanimous decision on behalf of a panel of three justices.

The justice stated that 2011 constitutional revisions make it apparent that the parliament aimed to shield legislation pertaining to sexual offenses from being examined for their unconstitutionality.

The three justices were asked to decide whether the Offences Against the Person Act (OAPA) Sections 76, 77, and 79 may be investigated for legality under the Chapter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment) Act’s Savings Law Provision

Existing laws that criminalize sexual interactions between males and prohibit the legal recognition of gay partnerships are immune from constitutional challenge under Sections 13(12) and 18 of the Jamaican Chapter of Rights and Freedoms, respectively.  In the Commonwealth Caribbean, they are known as “saving law” clauses.

The laws that are in effect in Jamaica are those that were in place prior to the adoption of the chapter.  In 1864, the OAPA came into existence.