Justices of the Peace Urged to Help Transform Society

Custos of Kingston, Hon. Steadman Fuller, has charged the city’s newest Justices of the Peace (JPs) to use their good offices to effect positive change within the society.

This, by volunteering their service in areas that can make a difference.

Among the areas he identified are: deportee processing; serving in the drug treatment and petty session courts; lock-up, sick and shut-in visitation; providing victim support; and assisting abandoned inmates.

“We are committed to moving the role of the Justice of the Peace beyond (being a signer of documents) and I firmly believe that with the committed delivery of any of the services that I mentioned, we can assist in the transformation of the society in which we live,” Custos Fuller said.

Fifty one persons, representing a wide cross section of professional disciplines including business, medicine, law, religion, civil service and banking, were commissioned into service during a ceremony held on July 28, at Custos Fuller’s offices downtown.

He commended the JPs and urged them to maintain their spirit of volunteerism and service.

“A number of you took the initiative in applying to become JPs. For that, I thank and commend you. Volunteerism is healthy,” he said.

Mr. Fuller told the JPs that the statutory provisions in the Jamaica Constabulary Force Act that provide for their participation in the administration of justice, empower them for duties that are “not to be taken lightly”.

He said those duties, which include witnessing statements and attending identification parades, had recently been extended to include involvement in community life, and urged them to use their powers well.