ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck says the Government is committed to upgrading the justice system to a “first class, first world system.”

“However, for us to get there, all stakeholders in the system will have to start thinking first class, first world, as we are not going to be anything more than what we think,” the minister argued.

Chuck was speaking at the end of a three-day Case Flow Management Seminar, facilitated by the National Centre for State Courts in collaboration with the Judicial Education Institute of Jamaica held yesterday at the Melia Braco Village, Rio Bueno, Trelawny.

The minister said not only will the ministry have to begin to think first class, but will also have to begin to operate in a first class manner by implementing time standards.

“No matter should be in the court system for longer than two years. How do we achieve that? I seek your assistance to let me know how I can start from now to provide not only the resources but the infrastructure or the additional personnel, so we can say we are starting a process to deliver and respond to the people of our country,” he told the participating judges.

In this regard, he called on the judges to work closely with prosecutors and defence counsel to guide them in utilising strategies such as plea bargaining and mediation to begin to reduce the time for court cases.

Chuck said that while the conversation on how time standards can be improved will take place, continuous efforts will be made to ensure that the facilities are on par with first world standards.

“The prime minister is committed to bringing the infrastructure to first world quality and he has said privately and publicly that the resources that are needed to provide a first world justice system will start in the next fiscal year,” he said.

The workshop formed part of the ministry’s thrust to train the Jamaican Judiciary to assist them to efficiently manage how cases move through the court system.