Traveling to Jamaica can be difficult, especially when you don’t know your rights. Sometimes difficulties arise only after you have decided to stay in the country for long periods of time, say more than two weeks. Even more challenging is the rush of high prices, where you don’t equip yourself with knowledge beforehand. This applies to residence of any type.
Rest assured, you can have fun, legally, while exploring Jamaican culture by living like a Jamaican, something tours don’t offer.
An easy way to understand Jamaicans is to visit one of our courthouses for a day. Whatever the case, especially in Resident Magistrates Court, humor is a definite side order, as even Jamaicans themselves are educated through their own court experiences.
The three most popular courts are in Kingston. Both the Resident Magistrate’s Court (small claims and trial court) and the Supreme Court (higher court) are located in downtown Kingston, while the Criminal Court is in the Half-Way-Tree area.
If it is allowed, you may want to enjoy spending a day with a police officer, especially a traffic cop. Definitely funny how Jamaicans exercise their “intellect” while some officers try to earn an extra buck on the streets through an illegal hustle. But there are good cops out there and you should know the difference. More importantly, know your rights so you can avoid an illegal hustle or nuisance.
Either way, you’d better know your rights: your shield against the crafty Jamaicans.
To get started, visit the Ministry of Justice website and explore the laws of Jamaica. Keep in mind, however, that as unique as our culture is, so is law enforcement.
You may find that many of the existing laws are not being practiced or followed as written. Even more exciting is the inclination of some of them. An example of this is landlord-tenant relations, mainly due to the fact that there are far more tenants than landlords. Landlords have a field day, while some delinquent tenants give them reason to. Some serious price increases are taking place, and they are only allowed when people do not educate themselves on their rights, regardless of the length or nature of their stay.
My advice in this regard is to get involved with the Rent Assessment Board from the FIRST DAY of your planning to live/stay in Jamaica, even temporarily.
A court case can take years to resolve, so avoid the headache by first empowering yourself through contacting the Rent Control Board. They currently have two offices. His office number in New Kingston is 501-2905.
Keep in mind that even though the laws are changing, you may want to make good preparations, either independently or with the help of a lawyer, in case you have a case in court.
A legal experience with lawyers is a whole different story, but research is a MUST before securing one ESPECIALLY in Jamaica.
The Jamaican Bar Association is a good point of contact, but they will not advise you which lawyer to choose.
Three good lawyers are Alexander Williams (civil), Colonel Linton Gordon (criminal) and Paul Beswick. Dwane Forbes, while not a lawyer, works very well as a paralegal and can help with legal paperwork. With over 12 years of experience as a paralegal, he currently manages the Lightbourne and Hamilton office. They are all excellent also in any case involving large sums of money.
Judges, especially at the resident magistrate level, can be quite emotional and therefore persuasive in obtaining consent for a number of cases, reducing the need for a trial. However, a good knowledge of the law yields great rewards, as initial consent may not be the best course, especially when responding to a claim from scheming Jamaicans.
You may find that more than your ability to argue is the need to trust your own good sense of judgment and logic.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, especially when you are in Jamaica!
All the best until my next article!