More JPs to Serve St. Ann
By: , August 16, 2018The Key Point:
Photo: Nickieta Sterling
Custos Rotulorum of St. Ann, Hon. Norma Walters (front row, sixth left), and retired Chief Justice, Hon. Zaila McCalla (front row, seventh left), with the newly commissioned Justices of the Peace for St. Ann, at Jewel Dunn’s River Resort and Spa in Mammee Bay, St. Ann, on Tuesday, August 14.The Facts
- In a ceremony, held at Jewel Dunn’s River Resort and Spa in Mammee Bay, St. Ann, the new JPs, 29 men and 32 women took the Oath of Office before Custos Rotulorum for St. Ann, Hon. Norma Walters. This brings the number of serving JPs in the parish of St. Ann to 417.
- Among those sworn in are Principal of Brown’s Town Primary, Soloman Smith; Pastor of the Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church in Claremont, Wayne Barclay, and Councillor for the Lime Hall Division, Genevor Gordon Bailey.
The Full Story
The cadre of Justices of the Peace (JPs) serving the parish of St. Ann has been increased, with the swearing in of 61 new members on Tuesday, August 14.
In a ceremony, held at Jewel Dunn’s River Resort and Spa in Mammee Bay, St. Ann, the new JPs, 29 men and 32 women took the Oath of Office before Custos Rotulorum for St. Ann, Hon. Norma Walters. This brings the number of serving JPs in the parish of St. Ann to 417.
Among those sworn in are Principal of Brown’s Town Primary, Soloman Smith; Pastor of the Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church in Claremont, Wayne Barclay, and Councillor for the Lime Hall Division, Genevor Gordon Bailey.
In his address, Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, charged the newly commissioned JPs to maintain an “impeccable character,” as they aid in solving the nation’s issues.
“We want persons of unimpeachable integrity, persons who, regardless of the challenges, petition, and pleas for your assistance, if you know it isn’t right, you stand firm and say no. [It is] very important that you should be of unquestionable integrity, and at the same time as a Justice of the Peace, I expect that you should be persons of impeccable character,” he said.
Mr. Chuck reminded the JPs that they should not see themselves as serving only the parish of St. Ann, but all of Jamaica as stipulated by the new Justices of the Peace Act 2018.
He reiterated that the Ministry of Justice is on a drive to increase the number of JPs islandwide, with the aim of having over 1,000 per parish.
The Minister said the increase will help to ease the burden on the justice system by diverting matters from the courts to be dealt with through mediation, spearheaded by JPs.
In the meantime, retired Chief Justice, Hon. Zaila McCalla, commended the newly commissioned JPs for having taken the “bold step to volunteer and make yourselves available to serve.”
She told the group that “your appointment will contribute greatly to the improvement of our justice system,” and encouraged them to avail themselves for further training.