KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs is moving to arrange training in mediation for senior members of the police force, the education sector and the church community.

Portfolio Minister Delroy Chuck says the decision follows the passing of the Mediation Act, which formalises the use of alternative dispute resolution in the criminal justice system.

The Act establishes a comprehensive framework governing the conduct of mediation in Jamaica. It provides for the registration of mediators, the licensing and regulation of mediation providers for continuing professional development, and the establishment of the necessary institutional machinery.

It was passed in the House of Representatives in July and in the Senate on October 23.

Chuck, who piloted the Bill in the House, outlined next steps as he addressed newly-trained justices of the peace (JPs) at their commissioning service at Lighthouse Assembly at Garbally Drive in Spanish Town, St Catherine on November 12. He said more mediators were needed to help resolve disputes before they escalate into conflicts.

Chuck told the JPs that he would have been meeting with top commanders of Police Area Two in St Ann on Friday, along with 50 to 100 mediators. Area Two comprises St Ann, St Mary and Portland.

“I want the mediators to interact with the police and I want the police to know who the mediators are because when the police identify parties in dispute, the police is going to encourage them to go to a mediator”.

“And very shortly I’m going to get some trainers to train the top brass of the police force who can train the other people in mediation,” Chuck added.

Regarding the church, the justice minister said he would be encouraging all churches to have at least three mediators. “Because if you think the church don’t have quarrel, you make a mistake, they do have quarrels too because people disagree,” he said.

“Why you have so many churches?” Chuck asked, answering with, “Because they disagree”.

He also shared that he has spoken with the minister of education with the aim being to have mediators in all schools. He said the guidance counselor, dean of discipline and the principal must be trained in mediation so they can help to resolve the conflicts that take place inside what should be places of learning.

“That is something I’m undertaking to do in the closing years of my life, to make sure, to the best that’s possible, to get Jamaica to a place that we can all be proud of,” said Chuck.

He implored the JPs to get involved not only in mediation, but in the other practices he has been promoting over the last two years. These include restorative justice, victim services, and child diversion. Chuck said it was necessary for the justices to get involved “because when there is a victim, there’s always an offender in most cases”. He said restorative justice has been “really tremendous in bringing the parties back together”.

Chuck said his aim over the next few years is to get mediation to reduce the number of cases coming before the courts. “And they should mediate before they litigate,” he said.

—Lynford Simpson