New justices of the peace get strong warning to avoid dishonest behaviour

Stern and threatening warning was directed at 84 new justices of the peace (JPs) who were commissioned on Sunday that if fingers are pointed at them for reasons deemed slanderous or for dishonest behaviour, they will be swiftly decommissioned.

The warning came from justice Minister Delroy Chuck, who was the main speaker at the commissioning ceremony for justices of the peace in St Andrew.

"It is vitally important that we maintain integrity. No one should be able to point fingers at you. If they point fingers at you, it must be falsely done, and that fingers will be pointed (back) at whoever is making these slanderous allegations against you.

"While you have been commissioned, if you act inappropriately, dishonestly or in any manner that is unbefitting to the office, you will be as quickly decommissioned," Chuck firmly stated.

Vision

He outlined his ministry's vision and expectations of the newly commissioned and those who are already justices of the peace, imploring them to be the "light and social consciousness" of their neighbourhoods.

"My ministry would like JPs across Jamaica to be the light, the social conscience of your neighbourhoods. You must be the person that others emulate. You must be the person that the ordinary citizen, who needs guidance, can come to for assistance. So it is not only signing papers and giving recommendations."

Chuck recommended that JPs ensure that they undertake more training in the future to further strengthen themselves for service.