Attorney General Kathleen Quartey led the small community gathering at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. The meeting aimed to introduce the public to a first draft of the Virgin Islands Human Rights Commission Act.

The AG was accompanied by Solicitor General Jo-Ann Williams-Roberts and Senior Crown Counsel Vareen Vanterpool, who helped explain language in the Constitution regarding human rights.

Chapter two of the Constitution is similar to the United States’ Bill of Rights, which outlines Americans’ essential freedoms, Ms. Quartey explained.

The chapter outlines 18 human rights, freedoms and responsibilities, which are protected by law.

And like the Bill of Rights, it honours each person’s right to religion, expression and freedom from discrimination, among others.

However, in an interdependent society, these rights are not absolute — they have limitations, Ms. Vanterpool explained.

“We also should bear in mind that there are times when these rights cannot be fully executed,” she said. “They are limited.”

The proposed human-rights commission would help to help strengthen the rights identified in chapter two through three functions:

• Independently initiating investigations of any complaints received in relation to human-rights violations;

• promoting public awareness of the rights and freedoms referred to in the chapter; and

• investigating legislation for human-rights compliance.

The full article appears in the Feb. 4, 2010 issue.