“Be Extraordinary” – Minister Chuck Charges New Justices of the Peace

Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, has called on the 53 newly minted Justices of the Peace (JPs) for the parish of St. Andrew, to aim to “be extraordinary” as they work with the Government in solving the nation’s problems.

Speaking at the graduation and swearing-in ceremony for the officials at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Sunday (June 3), Mr. Chuck said that as persons working in communities they have the ability to influence change.

“You now have to go beyond the ordinary. I would like all of you to be extraordinary. It’s not going to come overnight… . Start dreaming, start reflecting on the Jamaica you would like to leave behind,” he said.

“You have to start looking at how you can be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem,” he said.

The Justice Minister reminded those appointed that they should not see themselves as serving the parish of St. Andrew only, noting that the “new Act allows you to be a justice of the peace for all of Jamaica”.

He commended them for stepping forward to offer voluntary service, stating that he hopes to see members from this batch becoming Lay Magistrates and helping in the justice system.

Custos Rotulorum for the parish of St. Andrew, Dr. Patricia Dunwell, also encouraged the JPs to work more closely with the agencies of Government in touching the lives of citizens in a positive way and to become suitable mentors for the nation’s children and youth.

“You may decide to mentor one child at a time or to establish mentorship groups in churches, in schools [and] in your communities. Remember, it takes a village to care,” she said.