Courts must protect fundamental rights – Justice Carl Singh asserts
Students, lecturers, and members of the public were Wednesday evening treated to an informative and thought-provoking discussion on the “Constitutional Guarantee of Fundamental Rights and the Citizen”.
The session was hosted by the University of Guyana as part of “Project Renaissance”, launched in 2016 by Vice Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith. These sessions are entitled “Conversations on Law and Society”.
Presenting Wednesday evening was the distinguished Jurist-in-Residence, Justice
Sixth Form students of the Bishops’ High School interacting with Justice Carl Singh
Carl A Singh, who gave historical accounts of the identification of these rights.
Referring to personal accounts, Justice Singh highlighted the significant lack of understanding by individuals about the Constitution and what the Constitution recognises as their fundamental rights.
“It is in the context of providing a general education that I have framed my presentation tonight. My aim is to present a general idea of what these fundamental rights are. So that, in keeping with my observations made, I hope to be able to convey, or rather make contribution to what has been perceived as the woeful lack of education by our people about these fundamental rights.” Singh said.
The former Chancellor chose to focus on the right to life, freedom of expression, and protection from discrimination. He further noted that while the Constitution, which contains these rights, is the supreme law of the land, these fundamental rights are not absolute, but are conditional, meaning that there are limitations to these essential rights.
It was then that he cautioned those present to be wary when utilising their fundamental rights, so as not to infringe the rights of others.
Justice Singh quoted the words of the late Justice S Yacoob Mohamed from his book, Constitutional Law of Guyana.
“Absolute or unrestricted rights do not exist in a civilised society; a man’s fundamental rights and freedoms must not, therefore, violate the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.”
Justice Singh closed his address by stating that it was the responsibility of lawyers to promote the fundamental rights and freedoms in society, and it was the role of the court, as the guardians of the Constitution, to protect those rights.
The event was the third session of “Conversations on Law and Society”. The first and second focused on “The life and work of Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence Haynes” and “Guyana’s Borders, Boundaries, Barriers, and Bridges” respectively.
