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Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says he is aiming to bring alternative justice solutions across the length and breadth of Jamaica.

Chuck, who was addressing newly commissioned justices of the peace (JPs) last Friday (October 28) at th St Gabriel’s Anglican Hall in Clarendon, said he plans to highlight, garner support and use alternative justice services in every community.

During his presentation, the minister said the goal is to utilise alternative justice services to assist the judicial system in reducing court cases.

“Alternate justice doesn’t mean that you have to go to the court to get justice. We want people to know that you can get justice by visiting the justice of the peace, not that the justice of the peace will be able to deliver justice, but at least the justice of the peace can refer the person or persons to the appropriate agency that can assist them to get justice,” Chuck said.

“I am hoping that, before long, we won’t hear anyone say ‘We want justice’ because we want to bring justice to every nook and cranny of Jamaica.”

Chuck stated that the courts should be a last resort when it comes to matters of justice.

“The truth is, our courts are being overburdened and, even though the chief justice and all of the judges are working overtime and he is pushing the judges to get cases tried on time, the courts can do with many less cases,” the minister said.

He added: “This is where justices of the peace, we will be asking you to work with the justice centres across the parishes, work with victims services, work with child diversion, work generally with all the agencies to ensure that the people can get a response where there is wrongdoing, where there is a fair amount of abuse, where there is indiscipline, because it is important that the people, when they are hurt and frustrated, they get some response.”

The minister argued that what is happening now is that far too many persons are taking it upon themselves to administer justice and they think that they are dispensing justice by assaulting, abusing and violently hurting people.

“We want our justice of the peace to be the conduits, to be the informers, to be the persons with the knowledge who can assist community members to access justice,” Chuck stated.

He also said that the intention of the Ministry of Justice is that every single Jamaican can access justice without difficulty.

“They don’t have to go to the courts, but if it is a complex matter or if they have committed a crime, then the police may well take them to the court but there are many deviant behaviours and a fair amount of wrongdoings that oftentimes can be resolved in the communities without them escalating into serious problems that eventually end up in the courts.”

Chuck said mentors should be used in the child diversion programme and councilors in victim’s services programmes, citing that sometimes people just need someone to talk to, someone who will listen to their story.

The minister said his great hope is that Jamaica will become a mediation centre.

“You have heard me talk about Singapore. Singapore now has few cases in the courts because mediation and arbitration is a major money earner for attorneys, mediators and arbitrators,” he said.

“I would like Jamaica to be the centre for arbitration and mediation.”

To achieve this, Chuck revealed that very shortly the ministry will be promoting a Mediation Act.

He also pointed out that restorative justice, which is a type of alternative justice service, has been doing well since its inception.

“Restorative justice has really taken off right across Jamaica and the programme is so successful that the courts are now referring many matters. The truth of the matter is that, every 100 cases that the court refers, 93 per cent are successfully completed.”

He noted that JPs can’t charge for their service but individuals who are trained mediators can charge a fee. Trained facilitators of restorative justice will be paid by the ministry.

“The Ministry of Justice has enough money to pay for all cases that are referred to mediation and restorative justice.”

The minister also called on churches to help in the fight against crime in the country.

“I am now reaching out to the churches to not only assist us in the justice programme, but also in the indiscipline, the lawlessness, the corruption and criminality and wrongdoing of all kinds across Jamaica,” Chuck said.