Justice Minister Proposes Mediation to Settle Estate Matters at the AGD

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is proposing the use of mediation to deal with estate matters at the Administrator-General’s Department (AGD).

Mr. Chuck made the recommendation during his 2024/25 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 21).

The Department currently has 5,109 active estate and 935 enquiry cases in administration, including 338 new matters for 2023/24.

Over the past five years, the AGD has taken on an average 360 new cases per year, and averaged 420 closed during the period.

“Where we have a problem right now is to get the beneficiaries to come together and agree how [estates should] be apportioned. What I am planning to do is to get a mediation department in the AGD to deal with all these beneficiaries who curse one another as to what portion [of estates] they should get, even though the law is there to tell them what portion they are to get,” Mr. Chuck stated.

“We have… over $50 billion worth of properties that we want to give to the beneficiaries. We need some mediation… restorative justice to get the parties together,” he added.

The AGD’s property portfolio also comprises 3,891 properties islandwide.

Of these, 2,097 remain unimproved while 1,794 have been enhanced with an estimated value of $50 billion.

The Department also manages cash assets of more than $3 billion designated for the beneficiaries of deceased individuals’ estates.

Meanwhile, the AGD now has a new Chief Executive Officer/Administrator-General – Stacie-Ann Carty.

“We expect the same exceptional customer service to continue under her leadership, serving all its clients in keeping with the Government’s Service Excellence Standards,” Mr. Chuck said.

In 2023, the AGD won several customer service awards from the Jamaica Civil Service Association, as team members continued to work at providing justice and transforming lives.

“We congratulate [Corporate Planner] Ms. Opal Bryan for achieving the Management Award, and Senior Case Officer, Ms. Ruth McGrowder, for the Middle Management Award,” Mr. Chuck said.