The smile on Gender Minister Olivia Grange’s face announced her joy at the completion of another step to give meaning to the Sexual Harassment Protection and Prevention Act (2021).

“Help is here, the law is here, and justice is here,” Grange said Thursday at the swearing-in of 14 members of the Sexual Harassment Tribunal at her office in New Kingston.

The tribunal is now empowered to adjudicate complaints under the Sexual Harassment Protection and Prevention Act (2021). Alongside the tribunal, 18 authorised officers were also certified and will assist with investigations and referrals, forming part of the wider enforcement framework.

Grange said the moment signifies more than symbolic progress, describing it as a chance to end the silence often endured by victims who fear that justice will not be served.

“It is not a harmless banter. It is an abuse of power that can leave lasting scars,” she said of sexual harassment. “It silences people, it drives them out of jobs and schools, it robs them of their confidence and sense of safety, and, for too long, survivors felt their best option was to say nothing at all. But that has now changed. Today we say you do not have to be silent anymore.”

Added Grange: “These appointments are not ceremonial. They are practical, necessary, and extremely important. What we’re doing today is giving life to a promise, a promise that no one in Jamaica should have to face sexual harassment in silence and without hope that justice will be done.”

Grange noted that the tribunal was created as an independent body under the Bureau of Gender Affairs in her ministry and explained that it will be legally empowered to hear and make rulings on cases involving sexual harassment across various settings, including workplaces, schools, and landlord-tenant arrangements.

“The laws on paper are only the start. Justice only becomes real when we put systems in place; we put the right people in place, and the processes in place for those persons who need it most… The tribunal will hear cases brought to its attention by the secretariat or by any of the 155 human resource professionals in 77 entities across the public sector who have been given training in sexual harassment investigation techniques,” she explained.

Grange also noted that the 18 authorised officers designated at the event would play a critical role in the system.

She emphasised that they were trained in handling sexual harassment complaints and will be responsible for receiving reports, offering guidance, and ensuring that cases are properly investigated and referred to the tribunal.

“Your job is to listen without judgement, to inform complainants of their rights, and to make sure not even one complainant is turned away or discouraged. You will be the face of supporting offices and institutions across Jamaica, and people will look to you for guidance and safety; you have an awesome responsibility,” Grange told the authorised officers.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith also praised the implementation of the tribunal and the activation of the law, describing it as a transformative step for justice in Jamaica.

“You, the tribunal, are part of history. You are breaking new ground in jurisprudence, in administrative law, and in social engineering. Our investigating officers, our authorised officers, you will play such a critical role in establishing the facts, in making people feel that they are heard and that they are seen,” she stated.

Johnson Smith acknowledged the challenges that arose during the parliamentary process and the public debate that surrounded the Bill. She recalled concerns expressed by some Jamaicans during the joint select committee discussions, including misconceptions that the law would restrict consensual social interactions.

“This is not changing the structure of male and female engagement or about your ability to start a new relationship or to let someone know you like them. It is about protecting people from unwanted advances… It’s about going to an educational institution and knowing that the teacher-student relationship or the student-student relationship is just that, if that’s all I want it to be,” she clarified.

She highlighted real-life examples of young women in vulnerable circumstances — such as those working to support their families or seeking housing — emphasising that no one should have to sacrifice their dignity to get by, and that the tribunal exists to protect individuals in these situations by ensuring access to justice.

“The fact that an 18-year-old starting a job in a wholesale to help send her younger sibling to school should not have to trade her dignity for the ability to earn [and] that someone moving from a rural area to Kingston… should not have to trade her dignity for that landlord-tenant relationship,” Johnson Smith said.

Retired justice Ferdinand Smith, who was appointed chair of the tribunal, reminded his colleagues of the weight of their responsibilities and the principles that must guide their work.

“The oath that each member took is a public pledge that we will perform our duty to the best of our ability, without fear or favour. Justice demands fairness, impartiality, and independence,” he said.

He pointed to the psychological and economic toll sexual harassment can have on individuals and organisations and urged his colleagues to remain grounded, respectful, and conscious of the lives impacted by their decisions.

“Studies have shown that sexual harassment correlates with workplace-related health issues such as stress, depression, and anxiety, which ultimately lead to a decline in organisation productivity. We must not think that we are better than anyone. We must treat persons with utmost respect.We should not just see them as abstract things, we [should] see them as persons with interests,” he noted.

Chair of the Sexual Harassment Tribunal retired Justice Ferdinand Smith greets Gender Minister Olivia Grange as Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson Smith (second right) and Deputy Chair Karen Campbell-Basco look on at Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony of the tribunal. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)