JAMAICA | Government Urged to Align Salaries of Parish Court Judges with Judiciary Standards

KINGSTON, Jamaica. June 2, 2024: Opposition Spokesperson and Shadow Minister on Justice, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, has called on the government to review the categorisation of judicial officers to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all judges. 

In a statement  today, the Opposition Shadow Minister called on the government to delink the salaries of Parish Court Judges from the  Civil Service establishment and align them with that of the Judiciary.

Senator Scott-Mottley said by aligning their salaries and providing necessary protections, the government will demonstrate that it is serious about judicial independence and ensuring the continued high performance and integrity of the justice system.

Her recommendation follows reports from both the Chief Justice Bryan Sykes and Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck of the remarkable progress being made by the Parish Courts in clearing the backlog of cases in those courts.

The Opposition Shadow Minister highlighted that Parish Court Judges are the face of justice in Jamaica, handling approximately 90% of cases and interacting with a broad cross-section of the population.

She noted that the current backlog of cases in the Parish Court stands at an impressive 2.5%, well below the international standard of 2.5% to 5%. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given that many courts in the region have not reached such levels of efficiency.

Senator Scott-Mottley echoed sentiments by Parish Court Judges who have expressed growing concerns that their current compensation does not reflect the significance of their role or the demands placed upon them.

Additionally, the lack of security of tenure, inadequate financial remuneration, and the absence of institutional administrative independence are undermining their ability to effectively deliver justice.

“Parish Court Judges should be fully integrated into the judiciary, with constitutional protection and adequate remuneration. All judicial officers should be treated as one, and therefore, their remuneration should be considered at the same time by one commission”, said Scott-Mottley.

“The Constitution of Jamaica recognizes judges of the Supreme Court and Appeal Court, and it should similarly include Parish Court Judges. This would acknowledge their substantial jurisdiction and their role in upholding the rule of law,” Scott-Mottley declared.

“When their title changed from Resident Magistrate to Parish Court Judge, i t was anticipated that this would come with enhanced security of tenure, financial independence, and institutional administrative independence. However, Parish Court Judges continue to experience significant delays in promised increased remuneration since 2022,” She added,

Senator Scott-Mottley emphasized the need for reforms that recognize and support the indispensable role of parish court judges in Jamaica’s justice system.

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