Custodes Urged to Appoint More JPs

Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, is urging Custodes to appoint more Justices of the Peace (JPs) to serve Jamaicans.

Speaking in the House of Representatives recently, the Minister said there are 4,000 to 5,000 JPs in the system.

“They are doing yeoman work right across Jamaica and we need more. I have asked the Custodes to ensure that we appoint some younger JPs and to find some upright citizens from inner-city communities to serve. In many of these inner-city and rural communities, persons cannot find JPs and the few that are working are overworked,” he said.

The Minister informed the House that he will be going across the island to meet with as many JPs as possible.

“The residents in our communities are really the conscience of our communities, the example for others to follow. They should bring peace in the community,” he said.

Mr. Chuck said the role will have to be activated soon, “because there is a challenge with discipline, disorder and corruption, and the hard-working people in this country, who are exemplified by the JPs, must step up and take back the control of their communities and make Jamaica the place we want it to be”.

He said that on his quest to meet with all JPs, he will also urge them to get into training programmes, to learn more about how they can operate in the courts, and how they can assist with mediation and dispute resolution.

“At the end of the day, every Jamaican must come together and uphold what is right in our country and ensure who wants to oppose that is sidelined. I know the JPs want Jamaica to be a better place, and with their help this can be achieved,” the Minister added.

Mr.  Chuck said the Ministry will be working with the Custodes and JPs to empower and strengthen them to assist the justice system in areas of mediation, restorative justice, youth-at-risk programme, through the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) phase III, and to man the Court of Petty Sessions as Lay Magistrates.