Opposition wants cap for parish court cases increased to $5 million

The Opposition People's National Party is calling for an increase in the monetary limit for civil matters in the parish courts from $1 million to $5 million, so that more cases can be heard in a timely manner. 

Opposition Spokesperson on Justice Donna Scott-Mottley noted that the last increase from $250,000 to $1 million, occurred over 10 years ago in 2013, when Mark Golding was the minister of justice.

"Given that there is an urgent need for greater access to justice compounded by the impact of inflation and the high cost of litigation, the Opposition is of the view that the monetary limit in the Parish Court should be increased," Scott Mottley said in a media release on Monday.

Scott-Mottley also pointed to the current backlog of cases in the courts as a reason for increasing the limit.

“There are instances where parties have to wait several years before appearing before the courts. Currently, the Supreme Court is issuing 2028 trial dates for civil matters which means that some cases filed in 2024 will not be heard for another 4 years,” said Scott-Mottley. 

She argued that the parish courts would be able to handle a greater caseload as, up to January, there was no backlog in those courts, while the Supreme Court, with an average intake of 13,420, is only disposing of 8,765 cases each year.

She is calling for a periodic review of the Judicature (Parish Court) Act (Increase in Jurisdiction) Orders to ensure that the limits established reflect the economic climate of Jamaica.

"Such a measure would reduce the financial burden on the litigant of having matters heard in the Supreme Court for what is now a relatively minor matter, thereby fostering greater access to justice for all," Scott-Mottley said.

In June 2019, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck had stated that he supported an increase in the limit and held discussions with Chief Justice Bryan Sykes on the matter.

"The $1 million has been there for quite some time, and with inflation and the provision of better services across the parish courts, the likelihood is that it will be increased,” Chuck said at the time.

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