Chuck Opens Mediation Act Debate, Calls New Law Key to Peace and Investment

Hon. Delroy Chuck, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, has described the proposed national Mediation Act as far more than a routine legal update. Speaking as debate on the Bill opened recently in the House of Representatives, he framed the measure as a deliberate investment in the country's future and a practical means of resolving conflicts while strengthening communities.

Chuck argued that a single, coherent mediation framework would widen access to justice, improve investor confidence, and help position Jamaica as a destination for swift, credible dispute settlement. "In a world where speed, certainty, and credibility matter, this Act will transform mediation from a fragmented option into a cornerstone of national resilience, economic growth, and legal excellence. Mediation will be a major tool, a national strategy and the cornerstone to settle conflicts, prevent crime and violence and make Jamaica a peaceful and harmonious society," he said.

He said passing the legislation would reinforce the island's justice system by making it more reachable, more streamlined, and better suited to a contemporary economy. "This is a modern Bill that I hope to get mediators across every nook and cranny of Jamaica. We're going to ensure that business places have mediators, government departments have mediators and as I have indicated, we're going to train 20 mediators at the Administrator General's Department, so that they can deal with 'dead lef' and we ask that other business places, other institutions buy into mediation because as a country, we don't settle disputes well, and that is where mediation helps to settle disputes, settle conflicts and make Jamaica a more peaceful place," he said.

According to Chuck, mediation in Jamaica today is governed by a scattered set of laws that address particular kinds of disputes but do not offer one modern, national standard. "This fragmentation forces practitioners and parties to navigate inconsistent rules and uncertain standards. By enacting a comprehensive Mediation Act, Jamaica can transform its dispute resolution system creating clarity, consistency, and confidence in mediation as a reliable national mechanism," he said.

He observed that the courts are under pressure not only from large commercial cases but also from families, neighbours, and ordinary citizens trapped in recurring disagreements. "Traditional litigation operates like a scalpel. It cuts a case down to strict legal rights, ignoring the human relationships underneath. This is where the true power of mediation shines. Its utility extends far beyond corporate interests, it is a vital tool for repairing the fabric of our everyday lives. I want and intend for mediation to have a fundamental impact on and transform how our people engage and settle their differences," he noted.

Chuck said placing mediation at the centre of dispute handling would do more than speed up legal processes. "we aren't just making our legal system more efficient; we are making our society more compassionate. We are choosing a path that values reconciliation over retribution and understanding over a verdict".

Among its expected effects, the Mediation Act would offer legal certainty so overseas firms are not deterred by unclear local mediation rules; set domestic procedures in line with the Singapore Convention, which leaves operational details to national courts; and support foreign direct investment by showing that Jamaica upholds the rule of law and offers effective ways to resolve conflicts.

"By incorporating the Singapore Convention into our national fabric, we send a loud, clear signal to the world that Jamaica is safe, modern, and ready for investment and international business," he said.

Chuck also drew a distinction between commercial and community-level disputes. While business mediation can reduce financial costs, he said, mediation outside the commercial sphere can preserve relationships, neighbourhoods, and lives. "It steps into spaces where a rigid court judgement is too blunt an instrument to heal the underlying hurt," he said.