Justices of the Peace Urged to Champion Integrity in Their Communities
By: , March 20, 2025
Photo: Contributed
Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck (third left, seated), newly installed Custos Rotulorum for Clarendon, Hon. Edith Chin (second left. seated), and members of the Office of the Custos join 51 newly appointed Justices of the Peace for the parish as they proudly display their Instruments of Appointment.
Photo: Contributed
Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck (centre), is joined by newly installed Custos Rotulorum for Clarendon, Hon. Edith Chin, and former Custos, William Shagoury, for a photo opportunity during the recent commissioning ceremony for newly minted Justices of the Peace in the parish.The Full Story
Justices of the Peace (JPs) are being encouraged to embrace their role as beacons of integrity within their communities.
This urging comes from Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, who was speaking during a recent commissioning ceremony for newly minted JPs in Clarendon.
He emphasised the critical responsibilities of JPs in upholding justice and fostering peace in the society.
“We must move away from being inactive and ensure that the role of a Justice of the Peace has real meaning. It is not just a title. It is meant to signify that you intend to pursue justice and bring peace,” the Minister declared.
Mr. Chuck acknowledged that some JPs have fallen short of contributing meaningfully to their communities and emphasised the need for them to be actively involved in educating and assisting citizens.
“You must stand tall in your community. You must be the touchstone for services, not only within the Ministry of Justice but for various government departments. People should be able to look up to you and say, ‘there goes a good man, there goes a good woman’,” he added.
Mr. Chuck also encouraged JPs to continually educate themselves to better serve their communities, noting that a comprehensive stakeholder sensitisation programme is being implemented to keep them informed on crucial legal and social matters.
“We are trying to educate and inform our Justices of the Peace so that they can be torchlights within their communities. People should be able to come to you for guidance. You must know something, whether it be about wills, the Registrar General’s Department or other essential services,” he maintained.
Mr Chuck further challenged JPs to uphold the highest levels of integrity and actively assist in the fight against crime.
He encouraged individuals to avoid engaging in wrongdoing and to take a stand against any misconduct they observe, emphasising the detrimental impact such behaviours can have on families, communities and the nation as a whole.