KINGSTON, Jamaica—Justice Minister Delroy Chuck says $680 million in judgment debt was paid out during fiscal year 2025/2026, to satisfy claims against the government.

“This will encourage judges to continue to deliver timely judgments and be a part of the process of delivering a stronger justice system,” he said.

Chuck made the disclosure on June 10 during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

He told the Parliament that, “As part of our commitment to delivering justice for all, we are pleased to announce that the Attorney General’s Chambers has utilised the available funds allocated for judgment debt that has been submitted to this Ministry for payment”.

On the matter of social justice, Chuck said the Social Justice Division of the ministry is actively building a stronger justice system in its critical coordination of the Restorative Justice, Child Diversion and Victim Services programmes.

“Despite the many interruptions and extensive damage to some of our parish Justice Centres and parish courts, the Social Justice programme continues its mandate to deliver alternative justice services. Training and sensitisation sessions continued with the faith-based community, schools, vulnerable communities, families and individuals in need,” Chuck shared.

He noted that restorative justice preventative and resolution tools were implemented during the recent flare-up of violence in our schools. He also noted that the social Justice programme enjoys a close relationship with the Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills and Information, as they collaborate on educating Jamaicans about the many options available for conflict resolution.

During the last fiscal year, Justice Day was celebrated in four schools across four parishes as the programme shared the messages of peace and harmony with thousands of children.

Chuck also shared that last fiscal year, over a three-day period, the ministry also collaborated with the judiciary to deliver successful sensitisation sessions for judges on key social justice issues. He said full case management digitisation is underway for the Child Diversion and Restorative Justice programmes, supported by UNICEF and the Ministry of National Security and Peace through the Citizen Security Secretariat, respectively. “This initiative will strenghten case management activities and improve the reliability of programme data. The Ministry has also strengthened its technology infrastructure to support digitisation, enabling our social justice officers to serve citizens in the office, in the courts, at the police stations or other locations where they engage clients,” said Chuck.

On the matter of restorative justice, the minister pointed out that despite Hurricane Melissa’s disruptions to justice centres islandwide, restorative justice and the other social justice services have been contributing significantly towards a more rbust justice system.

Last fiscal year, the team sensitised more than 31,000 peopple in restorative justice and conducted 101 restorative pPractices workshops. “They continue to exhort Jamaicans to use the ministry’s flagship conflict resolution tool and ‘Talk It Out and Not Fight It Out’.

“We are happy to report that our restorative justice interventions have resulted in almost 1,700 agreements signed by parties involved in conflicts, thus strengthening greater community cohesion and peace,” Chuck highlighted.