Ministry Committed to Increasing Access to Justice

The Ministry of Justice remains committed to ensuring greater access to justice for all Jamaicans, says portfolio Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck.

“Access to justice is very important and we at the Ministry will do our part in ensuring that [this] is available to every single Jamaican, wherever they may live or wherever they may go to find it,” he said.

He was speaking at the annual Assize Church Service to mark the opening session of the Michaelmas Term of the Home Circuit Court at the University of the West Indies Chapel, Mona, St. Andrew on Sunday, September 18.

Mr. Chuck said that the Ministry is providing information on where people can go to access justice services, even in the simplest form.

“We have put in a line – 888-JUSTICE – so that during the course of the day, anyone can call and get information. The truth of the matter is that we need to [provide] in every nook and cranny and corner of Jamaica, the opportunity for Jamaicans to be able to get a hearing even if it means restorative justice or mediation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister is urging the courts to make greater use of restorative justice in resolving disputes.

“We are asking the parish court judges to refer more matters to restorative justice. The reason we are doing so is that the statistics show that when you refer matters to restorative justice in the parish courts, there is a 93 per cent success rate,” he pointed out.

“Certainly, in civil and some family matters, mediation is something the Ministry of Justice is pushing very hard, and we hope that in time, mediation will also become a success and achieve in excess of 50 per cent in terms of successes in these courts,” he noted.

Restorative Justice is a process whereby all the parties with a stake in a particular matter come together to resolve collectively, how to deal with the aftermath of the offence. This intervention focuses on building relationships and repairing harm caused by the conflict or crime.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the judiciary has made tremendous strides over the past year, and commended the leadership of Chief Justice, Bryan Sykes.

The Minister also expressed appreciation to the judiciary, supporting agencies and employees within the court system for going the extra mile to ensure that there has been significant improvement.

“Even while we celebrate…when we look at access to justice, the delivery of justice itself and the time period in which we access and deliver justice, we still have some way to go,” he pointed out.