THE CONSTITUTION OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
THE CONSTITUTION OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
WHEREAS the People of Antigua and Barbuda
a) proclaim that they are a sovereign nation founded upon principles
that acknowledge the supremacy of God, the dignity and worth of the
human person, the entitlement of all persons to the fundamental rights
and freedoms of the individual, the position of the family in a society
of free men and women and free institutions;
b) respect the principles of social justice and, therefore, believe that
the operation of their economic system should result in the material
resources of their community being so distributed as to serve the common
good, that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all, that
labour should not be exploited or forced by economic necessity to
operate in inhumane conditions but that there should be opportunity for
advancement on the basis of recognition of merit, ability and integrity;
c) assert their conviction that their happiness and prosperity can best
be pursued in a democratic society in which all persons may, to the
extent of their capacity, play some part in the national life;
d) recognize that the law symbolizes the public conscience, that every
citizen owes to it an undivided allegiance not to be limited by any
private views of justice or expediency and that the State is subject to
the law;
e) desire to establish a framework of supreme law within
which to guarantee their inalienable human rights and freedoms, among
them, the rights to liberty, property, security and legal redress of
grievances, as well as freedom of speech, of the press and of assembly,
subject only to the public interest:
NOW, THEREFORE, the following provisions shall have effect as the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda
CHAPTER II. PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
3.- Whereas every person in Antigua and Barbuda is entitled to the
fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the
right, regardless of race, place of origin, political opinions or
affiliations, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the
rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and
all of the following, namely-
c) protection for his family life,
his personal privacy, the privacy of his home and other property and
from deprivation of property without fair compensation.
The provisions of this Chapter shall have effect for the purpose of
affording protection to the aforesaid rights and freedoms, subject to
such limitations of that protection as are contained in those
provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of
the said rights and freedoms by any individual does not prejudice the
rights and freedoms of other or the public interest.