THE NEED FOR citizens to understand how the judicial system impacts on their everyday lives was underscored by attorney Ralph Thorne yesterday.
Thorne was speaking on The Rule Of Law, The Constitution And The Rights Of Citizens To Receive His Freedom at the opening ceremony of the Barbados Community College’s Industry Services Unit Industrial Relations Seminar.
The attorney explained the rule of law as a system that attempts to protect the rights of citizens from arbitrary and abusive use of government power and under which the interest and rights of citizen and individual take centre stage when contrasted with the overwhelming power and might of the state.
Speaking specifically on the judicial system, Thorne explained that the amendments to the Constitution in 1974 concerning the selection of judges and magistrates were seen as a step in the right direction in terms of entrenching and guaranteeing the rights of the private citizens against tyranny.
He also added that it meant the justice system would be controlled by persons who were accountable to their society.
“It was pivotal to developing a society in which the state is not given the opportunity to oppress the individual who may be weak and vulnerable, Thorne said.
The seminar was geared towards principals and senior staff of secondary schools from throughout Barbados and was designed to help to educate and give an understanding of industrial relations in terms of the dos and the don’ts and how to create a harmonious environment within the school setting.
George Lascaris, director of the Industry Services Unit, said: “Our goal is to make sure that if [the worldwide recession continues] that the legal process is followed so that workers do not think that they are being disenfranchised or being laid off without what legally is due to them.”
Under the theme Building Competences For Excellence In Union/Management Relations, the seminar covered topics such as Industrial Relations In The 21st Century Barbados, Minimizing Conflict Through Knowledge, A Focus On Local Labour Laws, Handling Grievances And Disciplinary Issues and Alternatives To Dispute Resolution, among others. (LK)