Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
108th session
Summary record of the 2943rd meeting
Held at the Palais Wilson, Geneva, on Thursday, 24 November 2022, at 3 p.m.
Chair:Mr. Balcerzak (Vice-Chair)
Contents
Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention (continued)
Combined twenty-first to twenty-fourth periodic reports of Jamaica
Mr. Balcerzak took the Chair.
The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m.
Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention (continued)
Combined twenty-first to twenty-fourth periodic reports of Jamaica (CERD/C/JAM/21-24; CERD/C/JAM/Q/21-24)
At the invitation of the Chair, the delegation of Jamaica joined the meeting.
The Chair, welcoming the delegation of Jamaica to the meeting, explained that additional members of the delegation would be participating via video link.
Ms. Grange (Jamaica), introducing her country’s combined twenty-first to twenty-fourth periodic reports (CERD/C/JAM/21-24), said that many countries, including Jamaica, were still addressing the challenges caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which had brought worldwide inequalities to the fore. Thanks to partnerships with other countries and multilateral institutions, Jamaica had made vaccines available to all its citizens, without discrimination of any kind. To close the digital divide highlighted by the pandemic, the Government had accelerated the roll-out of broadband and entered into partnerships with media companies. Furthermore, the Government had provided a 25 billion Jamaican dollar (J$) stimulus package to boost economic activity; lowered taxes by 1.5 per cent to increase consumer spending; allocated J$ 1 billion in tax credits to micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises; provided COVID-19 relief packages to entertainers and workers in the creative industries; and launched the COVID-19 Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) programme.
Section 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms prohibited discrimination on the grounds of race, place of origin, social class, colour, religion and political opinions. Other legislation and policies had been formulated to prevent racial and other forms of discrimination through the combined efforts of the Government and civil society. In early 2022, the Prime Minister had established the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs as part of his reform agenda to support the work of the ministries responsible for justice, security, education, health, housing, labour and social security.
The country continued to grapple with the socioeconomic impact of historical crimes against its people, underdevelopment and the legacy of colonialism and slavery. The Coral Gardens Trust Fund, which had been allocated over J$ 135 million to date, had been created to provide compensation and reparations to victims of the Coral Gardens incident, which had taken place in 1963, and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport had established an interim facility to provide shelter and medical care for the elderly survivors of the incident. The Government had made a commitment to transfer two plots of land to the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society and seven plots had been designated as heritage sites in Pinnacle, the site of the first Rastafarian commune, under the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act of 1985. The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office supported the Rastafarian community in safeguarding their intangible cultural heritage and Leonard Howell had been posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction for founding the Rastafarian movement.
Support was provided to Maroon communities to enable them to hold festivals and undertake development initiatives and, in 2022, two outstanding members of those communities had received national honours. The Government had worked in consultation with the Maroon community to have the Maroon heritage of Moore Town inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Blue and John Crow Mountains, home to trails, burial grounds, memorials and ritual spaces of the Maroon people, had been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015. All government agencies responsible for culture maintained strong relationships with the Maroon and Rastafarian communities. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust celebrated Taino Day every year as part of efforts to preserve, protect and promote Taino heritage.
In 2018, legislation had been enacted exonerating various national heroes from criminal charges for their involvement in the fight against slavery. The National Council on Reparation worked to pursue reparations for racial discrimination, in line with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the 10-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). A reparations policy was being developed under the theme of “People of African descent: Recognition, justice and development”. The Council had held a series of webinars to facilitate global conversations on race, with the involvement of experts from across the world and representatives of international organizations. The Ministry of Justice was conducting a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of restorative justice and the relevant legal provisions. The Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs would launch a public education and stakeholder engagement campaign to heighten awareness of the rights guaranteed under the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms. The Office of the Public Defender supported victims who wished to seek redress from the Government, and legal aid was available to citizens throughout Jamaica. The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport had reviewed school dress codes to ensure that all children were permitted to attend educational institutions. In 2018, the Interministerial Committee on Human Rights had been established to facilitate dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society representatives, on the implementation of the country’s obligations under various human rights treaties.
The New Social Housing Programme had been launched in 2019 to provide housing solutions for the most vulnerable citizens free of charge, based solely on their needs and circumstances, and the Land Administration and Management Division sought to formalize land tenure. The National Environment and Planning Agency was responsible for protecting the environment and striking a balance between economic development and the Jamaican people’s access to beaches.
Ms. Tlakula (Country Rapporteur) said that she would like to hear about how input from civil society organizations had been sought when the State party’s periodic report was being drafted. She wondered whether the Chinese Benevolent Society and the National Indian Council had been invited to make submissions for the report and, if not, why their opinion had not been requested.
She wished to know what measures were being taken to ensure that all the grounds for discrimination listed in article 1 (1) of the Convention were covered in the country’s legislation, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms. The Committee would appreciate an update on the progress made in adopting a comprehensive anti-discrimination law that addressed acts of direct and indirect discrimination committed by State and non-State actors and in enacting the Occupational Safety and Health Bill. She would be keen to learn whether the State party was prepared to consider repealing the savings law clauses of the Charter, especially those contained in section 13 (7), (8) and (12), which unduly limited the rights of citizens.
The Committee would be interested to hear what measures were being taken, in line with the concluding observations it issued following consideration of the State party’s previous periodic report (CERD/C/JAM/CO/16-20, para. 7), to reconsider and withdraw the broad reservation that the State party had filed to the Convention, as such a step would help to ensure that the Convention’s provisions were fully implemented. It would be useful to hear examples of how the Convention was implemented in practice in Jamaica. She would like to know whether its provisions could be invoked or applied in the country’s courts. If so, it would be helpful to have examples of cases.
The Committee would also appreciate examples of cases of direct or indirect discrimination based on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin in which the Supreme Court had made orders, issued writs or given directions enforcing rights under the Constitution, and where the Supreme Court had enforced the rights of, and provided redress to, victims of racial discrimination. What remedies, if any, had been granted by the Supreme Court in those cases? She would welcome information on the non-judicial mechanisms and procedures available to victims of racial discrimination in order to enforce their rights. The Committee would like to know what measures were being taken to raise awareness of the role of the Office of the Public Defender, what the composition of the Office was, how the Public Defender was appointed, what the Office’s mandate was and what budget and staff it had been allocated.
The Committee took note of the information provided in response to its prior recommendation to adopt specific legislative, administrative and other measures to give effect to article 4 of the Convention. It considered that hate speech did not pass the threshold of freedom of expression. Therefore, the adoption of the law envisaged to meet the provisions of article 4 (a) would not violate the right to freedom of expression. The new section 18A inserted in the amended Offences against the Person Act did not address the Committee’s concerns, as it did not give effect to article 4 of the Convention and did not mention racial discrimination. Accordingly, she wished to know whether the State party was prepared to reconsider its position on the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred or of incitement to racial discrimination.
She would be interested to know when the State party would submit a new common core document, considering that the current version (HRI/CORE/1/Add.82) dated from 1997. In that regard, she wished to remind the State party of the need for updated information regarding the demographic composition of the population, disaggregated by national or ethnic origin, sex and gender, covering also non-nationals, including migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons. The Government did not collect data disaggregated by race or ethnicity, yet the State party’s periodic report noted that “in addition to the traditional racial and ethnic groups in Jamaica, there are expatriate communities of European and Latin American descent as well as refugees and asylum-seekers from diverse backgrounds”. It would be of interest to the Committee to know the basis for that statement. Lastly, she said that the Committee would welcome information on measures to establish a mechanism for systematic and consistent data collection, based on the principle of self-identification, to assess the socioeconomic situation of persons or groups on the basis of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.
Ms. Ali Al-Misnad (Country Task Force) said that the Committee was concerned that the State party had not implemented the recommendation in the previous concluding observations to establish a national human rights institution in accordance with principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), and that the absence of such an institution meant that the Government was not held accountable for its human rights performance. She therefore wished to know why a national human rights institution had not yet been established and what was the current state of progress in the procedure to set one up. What measures had been taken or were envisaged to provide the future national human rights institution with adequate human and financial resources and to ensure its independence? To what extent had relevant stakeholders, in particular civil society organizations, been involved in and consulted on the establishment of the national human rights institution?
The periodic report did not specifically mention any activities or efforts to raise awareness of the Convention among government officials, law enforcement officers, members of the judiciary or the general public. The Committee would be glad to receive information on any measures taken to familiarize them with the Convention, to increase the Convention’s visibility and to disseminate information on available remedies against violations of the Convention.
The State party’s efforts to address discrimination through school activities and the education curriculum were commendable. Nonetheless, the Committee would be grateful for details of measures to promote human rights education in schools, in particular in relation to racial discrimination and the Convention. It would also welcome information on how the national curriculum and school textbooks were developed so as to promote respect, tolerance and understanding of different ethnic groups and non-citizens, including migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. To what extent did textbooks tell the history of different minority groups, such as the Maroons, the Rastafarians and the Taino, and their contribution to building the country? How were teachers and school administrators trained to promote tolerance and respect for diversity?
The Committee had been informed that, despite the gradual lifting of restrictions on the wearing of locks by children of the Rastafarian faith, some schools still prohibited the wearing of locks, knots, plaits and other hairstyles that were part of the culture and beliefs of minority groups. She therefore wished to know the State party ensured that schools respected the rights of minority students by refraining from the imposition of policies – such as the “no braids, no beads, no locks” policy – that discriminated against Rastafarian, Maroon and other Afro descendant students.
Mr. Kut (Follow-up Coordinator) said that in paragraph 17 of its previous concluding observations, issued in September 2013, the Committee had requested the State party to provide information, within one year, on its follow-up to the recommendations contained in paragraphs 6, 8 and 12. Unfortunately, the State party had not submitted a follow-up report. He wished to remind the State party that the Committee attached great importance to its follow-up procedure and that the State party would again be requested to submit an interim report during the current reporting cycle.
Mr. Diaby said that there were now reportedly far fewer killings by police than previously; the number had declined by more than half. However, he was concerned that the authorities had opened very few investigations into such killings. For that reason, he would appreciate information on measures to increase the resources of the Independent Commission of Investigations and on the number of investigations that had been completed. He was also concerned about the vulnerability of human rights defenders, particularly those who defended the rights of minorities, and wished to know whether the Government planned to enact a specific law for their protection.
Ms. Esseneme said that, according to paragraph 29 of the periodic report, the legal aid system provided persons of insufficient means with access to justice. She wished to know how the State determined eligibility for such legal aid. She would also be interested to know whether the legal aid service consisted solely in providing access to legal representation, or whether it also covered court fees. Given that free interpreting services were provided only in criminal proceedings, she asked what would happen if a party to civil litigation did not speak English.
The meeting was suspended at 4.05 p.m. and resumed at 4.35 p.m.
A representative of Jamaica said that the Constitution enshrined the obligation of the State to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and freedoms and provided that all persons in Jamaica were entitled to preserve fundamental rights and freedoms for themselves and future generations. The Constitution afforded protection against discrimination on the grounds of race, place of origin, social class, colour and religion. Jamaican legislation did not provide for an explicit definition of racial discrimination; however, the Government considered that the Convention was implemented through laws and policies that specifically addressed and prohibited discrimination on the grounds of race, place of origin and colour. For example, one section of the Constitution specifically secured the right of all qualified citizens to register as electors for elections to the House of Representatives and, once registered, the right to vote in free and fair elections. Nobody was disqualified from voting on the basis of race, colour or ethnicity. Moreover, several government policies applied the principles of non-discrimination and equality for all. Thus, the guiding principles of the National Policy on Poverty included respect for human rights, inclusive and participatory development, shared prosperity and equitable access to goods and services. The National Housing Policy aimed to provide adequate, affordable and legal housing for all.
Persons who believed that their rights, including their freedom from discrimination, had been infringed, could lodge a complaint with the Office of the Public Defender, which was empowered to investigate all allegations of constitutional breaches and maladministration by ministries, departments, agencies and statutory bodies. Aggrieved persons could also turn to the Independent Commission of Investigations or the Office of the Children’s Advocate and could pursue claims of discrimination before the courts.
The State party’s reservation to the Convention stipulated that ratification of the Convention by Jamaica did not imply the acceptance of obligations going beyond the constitutional limits nor the acceptance of any obligation to introduce judicial processes beyond those prescribed under the Constitution. The reservation meant that the State party did not accept obligations in situations where the Convention granted a right that was not guaranteed by the Constitution, or a right that was wider in scope than that established in the Constitution. That reservation was necessary, as Jamaica was a dualist State, and any obligations created by the Convention must be reflected in domestic law in order to have effect. The State party sought to protect the rights of all persons in the country and had included protection from discrimination on the basis of race, place of origin and other grounds in the Constitution. The delegation noted the Committee’s recommendation that the reservation should be withdrawn, but it must inform the Committee that the Government was not currently considering its withdrawal.
Since Jamaica was a dualist State, international treaties were not directly invoked before the domestic courts unless specific legislation had been enacted to transpose them into national law. Several pieces of legislation addressed various provisions of the Convention. Even in instances where domestic legislation was not yet in force or had not yet been amended to incorporate an international obligation, there was a presumption that the courts would not construe an act or piece of legislation in a way that would bring it into conflict with international law. The courts could take judicial notice of international law even in circumstances where the treaty did not yet form part of Jamaican domestic law.
With regard to the remedies available to victims of discrimination, aggrieved individuals could bring a constitutional claim under section 19 of the Constitution. A reply to the question on court cases for direct or indirect discrimination would be provided in writing. The Office of the Public Defender also offered non-judicial recourse. The Office could initiate an investigation if the Public Defender was of the opinion that individuals or groups of persons had suffered, were suffering or were likely to suffer an infringement of their constitutional rights as a result of any action taken by an authority or an officer or member of that authority. It could also initiate an investigation into allegations made by individuals, and it was empowered to determine whether there was a prima facie case in respect of which the complainant could institute legal proceedings. The Office was responsible for ensuring that any persons who alleged that their constitutional rights had been or were likely to be infringed had access to professional legal advice, when necessary.
The Office of the Public Defender currently employed 28 persons, including the Public Defender, the Deputy Public Defender and a number of investigators. The Public Defender was appointed by the Governor-General, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition. Further information on the Office of the Public Defender would be provided in writing.
The Government disseminated information on human rights generally and discrimination in particular in several ways. Government ministries, departments and agencies sensitized the public on areas that fell within their purview. The Jamaica Information Service was mandated to disseminate information to enhance public awareness of government policies and programmes. In 2022, the recently established Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs had announced the roll-out of a sensitization programme on the country’s laws aimed at educating the public on their rights under the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms, including the right to freedom from discrimination. The programme would be extended to cover institutions such as universities and to raise awareness among government officials.
With regard to measures taken by the Government to sensitize law enforcement officials and members of the judiciary about the Convention, the Jamaica Constabulary Force had a diversity policy that addressed differences relating to politics, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity and other factors. The Constabulary Force also had a police public interaction policy, a human rights policy and a policy on the use of force. The Court Administration Division had put in place a customer service charter under which the courts committed to dispensing fair and equal treatment to all clients of the court, regardless of ethnicity or origin.
The bill on occupational health and safety had been considered by the joint select committee of the parliament and was currently being revised based on the comments made during that process.
A representative of Jamaica said that the Government had made a number of efforts to engage with civil society prior to the dialogue with the Committee. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade had issued a public call for submissions on its website and had made overtures to specific civil society groups. Information on the dialogue with the Committee had also been shared with the members of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, which included representatives of the Chinese Benevolent Society.
A number of ministries and State agencies were heavily involved in public education programmes. The Ministry of Education was responsible for the reintroduction of civics as a fundamental subject across all curricula, covering such issues as self-identity and constitutional rights and responsibilities, many of which were also addressed in the Convention. The National Standards Curriculum for grades 1–9 comprised subjects that specifically included human rights education as a means of exposing students to discrimination-related issues and influencing appropriate actions and behaviours. Those subjects included history, social studies, religious education, physical education, and health and family life education. Non-discriminatory practices were also promoted in other disciplines such as creative and performing arts, vocational learning and foreign languages.
The use of Jamaican as a language in schools was also on the Government’s agenda, as some students did not consider English to be their first language. Discussions on the matter were ongoing. Various cultural programmes were implemented in schools by the Ministry of Education in partnership with UNESCO, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. Jamaica Day was celebrated every year in a way that included the country’s various cultures and ethnicities. Taino Day had been institutionalized in schools, and students and teachers were encouraged to recognize Tainos as the first Jamaicans. Indian Arrival Day was also observed as part of the country’s cultural recognition of the indentured labour programme that had brought Indians to Jamaica.
The National Council on Reparations, through its internal reparatory justice programme, recognized the harmful legacies of the country’s colonial past and the need to also address whatever atrocities Jamaicans themselves had committed. In consultation with the Ministry of Education, the Council had begun a programme to reform the curricula for all age groups, incorporating the country’s true historical past to engender national self-identities and ensure equal treatment of various ethnic groups. During the pandemic, the Council had organized a global webinar series, which had allowed it to also engage with members of the diaspora. Topics covered had included skin bleaching, perceptions and realities of racial discrimination, dissecting race, colour and ethnicity, legacy issues of colonialism and slavery, and justice for and the recognition and development of people of African descent. The Council, in consultation with the Caribbean Community Reparations Commission, was examining the existence and rights of Indigenous Peoples in Jamaica and the other Caribbean islands.
A representative of Jamaica said that legal aid was provided to persons who could not afford legal representation in criminal and other matters. The delegation would provide further information on the subject in writing. The Commissioner of the Independent Commission of Investigations was appointed by the Governor-General after consultation with the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition. The Commission’s functions included conducting investigations concerning actions by members of the security forces and agents of the State that resulted in death or injury or in the abuse of rights. Further details on the investigation process and the number of inquiries handled would be provided in writing.
A representative of Jamaica said that the Government recognized the importance of addressing the issues raised in relation to hairstyles and dress. A dress code was currently being discussed in broad public consultations, including in schools, and further information would be provided in future reports.
Ms. Spencer (Jamaica), speaking as head of the delegation, said thatthe establishment of a national human rights institution remained an important objective for the Government. In cooperation with public stakeholders and international organizations, the Government had studied various models of national human rights institutions with a view to determining the best approach for Jamaica. The Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, which had responsibility for human rights matters, was continuing the research on that question that had previously been conducted by the Ministry of Justice. The plan currently called for the establishment of the national human rights institution through the expansion of the role and functions of the Office of the Public Defender. Comprehensive research had been done to determine the establishment and operational costs, including staffing costs, for the institution. It was expected that a final policy position would be settled by March 2023.
A representative of Jamaica said that there were now school textbooks that addressed matters of reparatory justice in a historical context. The National Council on Reparations was working with the Ministry of Education to develop innovative materials for all age groups that retold the story of Jamaica from a Jamaican perspective. Human rights issues, including elements of the Convention, were also being incorporated into the curriculum.
A representative of Jamaica said that interpretation services were provided in both criminal and civil court proceedings, upon request.
Ms. Tlakula said that the Committee had recommended in its previous concluding observations that the State party should adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation covering, inter alia, discrimination on the grounds of descent and ethnic and national origin. Although the State party was a dualist State, it was obliged to enact such legislation.
With regard to the reservation to the Convention, the delegation claimed that the courts took the Convention into account in legal proceedings. It was therefore unclear to the Committee why the State party considered it necessary to maintain its reservation. The Committee would appreciate information regarding cases in which the Convention had been invoked before the Supreme Court. The Committee would like to find out about measures to popularize the Office of the Public Defender. The fact that the Office had received no complaints of racial discrimination could be attributable either to people’s lack of awareness of the Office or their lack of faith in its effectiveness.
With regard to the State party’s claim that the enactment of legislation that complied with article 4 of the Convention would violate the right to freedom of expression, she underscored the distinction that must be made between the exercise of freedom of expression and hate speech. She drew attention in that connection to the Committee’s general recommendation No. 35 on combating racist hate speech. The information provided in the State party’s periodic report on the demographic composition of the population failed to respond to the Committee’s request for information regarding data collection and the current socioeconomic situation.
Ms. Ali Al-Misnad said that the Committee had been informed that the recent Population and Housing Census had identified the ethnic background of various sections of the population, including the Maroons. She wished to know whether that information was correct. According to the periodic report, commentators frequently referred to the chronic underdevelopment of certain groups. As the term “chronic” was customarily used to describe a persistent disease, she wished to know whether the groups in question were deemed to have no prospect of development.
A representative of Jamaica said that no specific legislation had been enacted to implement article 4 of the Convention. However, several laws penalized acts of violence against groups of persons of a different race, colour or ethnic origin and incitement of such acts. The Public Broadcasting Corporation Act had established a State-run corporation whose services were designed to promote respect for fundamental rights and freedoms and the social responsibilities of individuals. Action was taken to support different cultures, races and ethnicities, to deepen mutual understanding and to preserve racial harmony. In addition, the amendments to the Offences against the Person Act adopted in 2014 facilitated the implementation of article 4. Section 18A, which had been cited in the periodic report, prohibited a variety of relevant criminal acts. The Cybercrimes Act provided for the prosecution of crimes committed on the Internet relating to particular persons or groups.
A representative of Jamaica said that the population census was due to be completed before the end of 2022. The question as to whether it should include persons who self-identified as members of a specific group had been discussed by the Statistical Institute and the issue continued to be addressed at the national level.
Ms. Stavrinaki said that, according to the Guide to Practice on Reservations to Treaties, issued by the International Law Commission, a reservation should not be formulated if it was incompatible with the object and purpose of the treaty. As the State party’s reservation to the Convention was formulated in general terms, it was difficult to assess its compatibility with the Convention.
Dualist countries were required to adopt enabling legislation that incorporated their obligations under the Convention. Although the State party’s Constitution provided for a high level of protection, domestic legislation should be enacted to facilitate its implementation. The Committee currently lacked the necessary data to confirm that appropriate investigations were undertaken and that victims were provided with remedies, in accordance with the State party’s obligations under the Convention, in the event of any infringement of the rights to equality and non-discrimination enshrined in the Constitution.
Mr. Diaby noted that the Independent Commission of Investigations had been established to address cases of violence by law enforcement officers and that there had been a substantial decrease in fatalities stemming from such acts. Nevertheless, a proposal to amend the law that had established the Commission, in response to a ruling by the highest judicial authority that the law in question granted the Commission investigative rather than prosecutorial powers, had been rejected. He wished to know whether any measures were envisaged that would enable the Commission to institute prosecutions, with a view to promoting a further decrease in fatalities caused by interactions with law enforcement officers.
He reiterated his question as to whether there was any legislation in the State party aimed at protecting human rights defenders, especially those who supported ethnic or linguistic minorities.
A representative of Jamaica said that there was a standard national curriculum for grades 1 to 9. It also served as the basis for developing curricula for students in grades 10 to 13. The curricula were based on the principle of inclusivity, and account was taken of students’ diverse characteristics, including their backgrounds and learning preferences. The curricula included a wide range of disciplines, including civics and religious education. The civics syllabus, for example, identified important themes, such as the country’s heritage. With a view to building a society based on self-reliance, independence and cooperation, the educational programme presented students with a case study focusing on the cultural and social attributes and characteristics of particular villages that were also applicable to their own home settings and school communities. Students also examined the way of life of different ethnic groups, such as the Chinese and Indian communities.
Ms. Grange (Jamaica) said that the Committee’s question concerning the savings law clauses would be referred to the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
The issues that arose in her country were social rather than racial. As the motto stated, “Out of Many, One People”. Socioeconomic issues were being addressed with a view to creating greater economic prosperity for all.
Ms. Tlakula noted that the national curriculum included religious education. According to paragraph 6 of the periodic report, the population included Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Baha’is, Rastafarians and Jews. She therefore wished to know whether the religions of all those groups were included in religious education.
The meeting rose at 5.50 p.m.