Chief Justice Bryan Sykes says judges in the parish courts will be required to become aware of the provisions of the customer service charter that govern the operations of the courts.

He was speaking today at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court (Civil Division) on Sutton Street at the launch of customer service centres for parish courts.

The Customer Service Charter for the Court of Jamaica assures the public that, among other things, telephone calls to any courthouse across the island will be answered within four rings.

It also assures members of the public that their enquiries will be handled “courteously and expeditiously.”

Sykes warned that unanswered telephone calls to courthouses “should become a thing of the past.”

“What we should not have happening, at least in the court of the judges who are here, is the phones ringing, and ringing and ringing until it stops,” the chief justice said.

The full provisions of the charter have been published on the websites of the Supreme Court and the Court Management Service.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, who also addressed the launch, acknowledged that for years, members of the public have been subjected to poor customer service, particularly at government-owned entities.

“There were areas where we had touts. People were paying to get service done, trying to cut corners. That should not be so...the people of this country deserve better,” Chuck said.

“In the court centres, they must become fountains of justice, fountains of service and this is what is being highlighted today,” he added.

NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Sykes was speaking at the launch of the  customer service charter. In fact, he was speaking at the launch of the customer service centres for parish courts.

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