80 New JPs for Kingston

The number of Justices of the Peace (JPs) serving Kingston has been boosted with the commissioning of 80 new officers on Thursday (Dec. 4).

They took and subscribed to the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance during a ceremony on Thursday (Dec. 4) at Kingston Bookshop in downtown Kingston.

In his address to the newly installed JPs, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Delroy Chuck, charged them to serve with integrity and to be shining examples in the communities where they serve.

“Having agreed to become a JP, we don’t expect that once you are commissioned here today to disappear. I am begging each of you, for heaven’s sake, to make that acronym JP mean something. Let it stands for your promotion of justice and peace within your family, within the neighbourhood and in Jamaica,” he said.

He urged them to uphold the office, enhance its image across the country and represent it with dignity and integrity.

“Justices of the Peace, the outstanding ones, are the ones that so many other Jamaicans want to emulate, and you must so conduct yourself that people want to emulate you,” he said.
Custos for the parish of Kingston, Hon. Steadman Fuller, in his remarks, reminded the new JPs that they are assuming a very important role in the country.

He said that they are at the forefront of the fight against crime and violence, corruption and injustice in the country.

“Institutions at all levels depend on you to be truthful and honest whenever you place your seal or stamp on your signature on any document. Your fellow citizens look to you for guidance and leadership.

“Regrettably, we continue to experience a serious problem of persons in the fraternity acting in breach of their commission and bringing the entire body of justices of the peace into disrepute,” he pointed out.

He urged persons to report JPs who are acting inappropriately to the Custos of the specific parish.

The new JPs successfully completed an intensive qualifying training course, which was organised by the Justice Training Institute (JTI).

JPs play a vital role in the justice system and community.

Their functions include witnessing statutory declarations and affidavits, certifying documents, attending Children’s Courts and Drug Courts, considering bail applications, and visiting correctional and care facilities.