“Integrity is the hallmark of Justices of the Peace”, Custos Rotolurum, the Hon. Steadman Fuller said at the commissioning of thirty-one Justices of the Peace this week. The Custos challenged the ‘31’ to execute their duties fairly and fearlessly. “This is the time when more is required of us; when we execute our duties consistent with the oath of office that you have taken here today, you do so knowing that, the work you do supports the law enforcement entities in Jamaica,” Custos Fuller said.
In recent times there have been several calls from the Minister of Justice, the Honourable Delroy Chuck, highlighting the critical role that Justices of Peace play in administering justice and maintaining familial stability and that more Justices of the Peace need to be commissioned.
Justices of the Peace of Jamaica, Kingston Association answered the call of Minister Chuck to train more persons to serve as Justices of the Peace; by commissioning thirty-one public servants, businessmen and women to the service. The new cadre underwent a rigorous 21- week training in specific areas of civil law, meditation, and conflict resolution.
“Your training does not end here,” Custos Steadman Fuller reminded the recently commissioned cadre of Justices of the Peace, “you will be required, and I stress required, to attend a prescribed number of man-hours of training in various areas to ensure, that you are equipped to serve your communities and facilitate balance and harmony within families and between neighbours”. Custos Fuller was strident as he continued his charge concerning training, “this is non-negotiable, as at the crux of crime and violence within our societies, is the inability of families and neighbours to resolve disputes.” He further added, that one of the roles of the Justice of the Peace is that of being a peacekeeper, as such he was seized of the importance of training and committed to doing all that was possible to ensure that the requisite training programmes through the Justice Training Institute were scheduled.
Dr. Mark Gonzales, Chairman of the Board, on his part, charged the thirty-one, commissioned that they are there to work diligently, conscientious, willing, dependable, and honest, not to wear the post nominal as a mark of elitism, but rather as an acceptance to work and serve the community.
The commissioning ceremony of the thirty-one Justices of the Peace represented the first under the 'new' Justices of the Peace of Jamaica, Kingston Association. The commissioning ceremony took place with the rules as outlined in the Disaster Risk Management Act, in observance of the Covid-19 protocols.
Contact
Marie Francis (Ms)
Office of the Custos of Kingston
80 King Street
Telephone 876 809 5050
Website: www.kingstonjp.com