Legislation

THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE (VALIDATION AND INDEMNITY) ACT 16 OF 1997

Governor-General

29th day of May 1997

AN ACT to Validate the taking of fingerprints by the use of the thumbs and all the other fingers during the enumeration exercise beginning on the 6th day of January, 1997 to the date of coming into operation of this Act, to indemnify persons against liability arising out of the conduct of such emuneration exercise, and for matters connected therewith.

[May 30, 1997]

WHEREAS RULE 29 of the First Schedule to the Representation of the People Act makes provision for the taking of fingerprints by the use of the right and left thumbs or with any other finger or fingers in the place of the missing thumbs:

AND WHEREAS during an enumeration exercise conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of the People Act which began on the 6th day of January, 1997, fingerprints were taken with the use of all fingers including the thumbs:

AND WHEREAS those fingerprints were taken contrary to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the said Rule 29:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to validate the enumeration exercise during the period aforesaid:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Representatives of Jamaica, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

1 Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Representation of the People (Validation and Indemnity) Act, 1997

2 Validation and indemnity

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the enumeration exercise beginning on the 6th day of January, 1997 to the coming into operation of this Act in which fingerprints were taken with the use of all fingers including the thumbs, without legislative authority therefore is hereby declared to have been invalidly, properly and lawfully carried out to all intents and purposes and with the effect as if done under such authority as aforesaid; and every person liable to be legally proceeded against on the ground of any illegality in the conduct of the enumeration exercise to which the foregoing provisions of this section apply is hereby freed, acquitted, discharged and indemnified as well against the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors as against all other persons from legal proceedings of any kind.

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