Despite Jamaica being singled out as one of a handful of countries in the Americas region where same sex marriage is not allowed, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has made it clear the Government will not be moving to legislate in favour of such unions.

Chuck, who was making his contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, shared that “last year we issued 8,313 licences and we provided the Minister of Finance or the Tax Administration Jamaica with $33,252,000. We are doing well, but we don’t mind more marriages so we can provide more money to the Ministry of Finance”.

Continuing, the justice minister said “we enjoy when people come for their marriage licence because it means that a family will be created, hopefully, or at least husband and wife”.

Chuck also disclosed that there was an increasing number of marriage applications from the LGBTQ community, even though same-sex unions are not legal in Jamaica. He suggested that the Government has no appetite to move in this direction any time soon.

“Let it be clear, we do not support same-sex marriages as yet, or ever. The truth of the matter [is that] people have been coming, asking us for marriage licence for same sex. This, at the moment, is not permissible,” Chuck stated.

He also said that the ministry continues to provide Minister’s Marriage Licences for walk-in applicants, as well as those from hotels.

“The ministry is able to complete the process within 24 hours for the majority of walk-in applicants,” he declared.