Put service above self, DPP implores JPs
Published:Monday | January 30, 2017 | 12:00 AMBryan Miller
Western Bureau:
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn has called for persons not to accept the position of justice of the peace (JP) for the sake of the title alone, but instead, they should be prepared to give service above self in their respective communities.
"There is nothing wrong with loving a title. What is wrong is if you go after getting a title, and when you have it, you do nothing with it, and you allow lethargy and apathy to overcome you," said Llewellyn.
The DPP emphasised that being a prosecutor in the justice system for 30 years, she has adopted the view that service above self was important.
Llewellyn was giving the keynote addressing at the annual awards banquet of the St James Chapter of the Lay Magistrates' Association, which was held at the Holiday Inn in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, on Saturday night.
Outlining that justices of the peace play an important role in the administration of the justice system, the DPP said that those appointed should feel obligated to serve their respective communities, and strive to be a beacon of positivity.
Llewellyn said that crime could only flourish in an absence of unified action towards law and order. She called for all law-abiding persons across the country to join in an alliance, as only then could crime and violence be curbed.
STAND AS LEADERS
"As justices of the peace, you cannot afford to be the persons who have the title, a beautiful commissioning ceremony, and go back to your community, and when the police need your assistance to take a caution statement, they have to make 10, 12, 15 calls to different JPs to find a JP to assist," stated Llewellyn.
She urged the St James JPs to be brave and stand as leaders in their respective communities.
Six St James justices of the peace were awarded for their service to different segments of society during the event.