Dalrymple-Philibert: No Jamaican will be denied access to justice despite hurricane damage
Jamaica Gleaner | 2025-12-05 | Original Article
WESTERN BUREAU:
State Minister Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert has vowed that no Jamaican will be denied access to justice despite Hurricane Melissa’s crippling blow, which damaged courthouses and justice centres and disrupted services across western Jamaica.
Speaking recently at a Legal Aid Connection and Justices of the Peace Sensitisation Online Forum, Dalrymple-Philibert said the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has been working non-stop to stabilise operations in the wake of the storm.
“Hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage to several courthouses and Justice Centres, particularly across western Jamaica,” she said. “A number of critical justice services—including Restorative Justice, Child Diversion, and Victim Services, were severely disrupted, necessitating scaled-down operations in affected parishes.”
Despite this, she emphasised the government’s unwavering position: “The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs remains resolute in its mandate to ensure that no Jamaican is denied access to justice.”
She said the ministry has set up temporary arrangements and is exploring new ways to reach cut-off communities.
“We have been working assiduously with our partners to restore services, implement interim arrangements, and explore innovative delivery mechanisms to meet the needs of communities most impacted by the hurricane,” she said.
She also extended condolences to families grieving after the storm’s passage. “On behalf of the ministry, I extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who tragically lost their lives,” she told participants. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with all those who continue to recover and rebuild.”
The state minister said the forum’s presentations were timely, especially as disaster recovery intersects with justice delivery. “The contributions from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management will provide critical insights into disaster response, preparedness, and community resilience—knowledge that is invaluable to you operating on the front lines,” she said.
She added that the Fair Trading Commission and the National Identification and Registration Authority would help reinforce consumer rights and support citizens who lost key documents during the disaster.
Dalrymple-Philibert also thanked keynote presenters Pierre Rogers, KC and Davion Vassell, stating, “Their legal expertise and insights will deepen our appreciation of access to justice in challenging times.”
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