'I will remain faithful to my oath'

PRESIDENT OF the Court of Appeal Justice Seymour Panton says his opposition to proposed changes to the country's libel laws will not prevent him from discharging his oath of office if they are passed into law.

"If the Parliament were to amend the law to meet the demand of the media houses, I would remain faithful to my oath, even though I would not agree with the law," Panton emphasised yesterday.

Speaking at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Kingston, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew, Panton said he was not in agreement with the proposed changes that would end jury trial in libel cases, place a cap on jury awards, and transfer the burden of proof in libel cases to those claiming that they were libelled.

A committee chaired by Queen's Counsel Hugh Small reviewed Jamaica's defamation laws and recommended numerous changes to ensure transparency and accountability.

The report has been approved by the bi-cameral legislature.