Time to move on

Manchester Chamber President calls for an end to conflict over new custos

BY ALICIA SUTHERLAND Sunday Observer staff reporter editorial@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, February 05, 2012

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — With the installation of the new Custos of Manchester Sally Porteous finally a done deal, Manchester Chamber of Commerce (MCOC) President and Justice of the Peace (JP) Wendy Freckleton wants an end to the conflict among parishioners over her appointment.

"As far as the selection of Mrs Porteous was concerned, whereas we all know that it is the prime minister's prerogative, the fact that she is a politician, or was a politician, and her selection has caused grave upset in the parish of Manchester. But we have to move on. We have to put that behind us and we must respect the office of the Custos and work with her to ensure that Manchester is again placed in a good light. (The title) JP is about peace and we need to ensure that we maintain the peace and dignity of the parish, so we just have to work together. The Custos is the chief justice of the peace for the parish and her office will just have to be respected," said Freckleton.

Porteous was named to the post last November by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on the recommendation of Prime Minister Bruce Golding. This was shortly after retiring as Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Councillor for the Mandeville division of the Manchester Parish Council and being sworn in as a justice of the peace.

She was also the losing candidate in the 2007 race for Member of Parliament in Central Manchester against the People's National Party's (PNP) Peter Bunting.

Some justices of the peace in the parish felt that Porteous's ascension to custos was politically motivated and petitions were sent to both Prime Minister Bruce Golding and then Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller in an effort to have the appointment rescinded.

At a half-yearly meeting of the Manchester Chapter of the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica last month, members of the public protested at the entrance to the Golf View Hotel where the meeting was held, with their placards saying Porteous was not suitable for the position of Custos. A walkout was also staged by some JP's as she rose to speak in the meeting.

Following threats of protest by members of the public and some JP's vowing to boycott the the January 26 installation ceremony at the Northern Caribbean University in Manchester to signal their dissatisfaction, the event was postponed.

A news release from the Office of the Governor General then, said it had been put off to "facilitate further consultations within the parish."

A week later, on February 1, the installation ceremony, which is customarily a public function, took place at King's House.

Again controversy ensued when only the state-owned Jamaica Information Service (JIS) was allowed to do coverage of the event. Independent media houses were later allowed to access the footage.

However, as Porteous officially takes on her role, efforts are being made to mend fences.

A senior JP in the parish has also declared that the JPs in the parish and the new custos have to find grounds on which to cooperate for the good of the parish.

Immediate Past President of the Lay Magistrates Association's Manchester Chapter, Jean Anderson, who is also part of its 14-member executive told the Sunday Observer on Friday that "Mrs. Porteous has support, but it is not going to be an easy road."

She said together they will have to "mend fences" and "build bridges".

"It will take time and wisdom, it will not be a miracle. A lot of goodwill is needed from both sides," said Anderson.

She insisted that the there was fairly good represenatation of the parish's JPs at last week's installation ceremony at King's House, despite the short notice.

"We did the best we could, and we didn't have a bad representation," said Anderson.

Former Acting Custos, Calvin Lyn, the person at the heart of the controversy involving Porteous, and the man who was passed over for the position, when contacted by this paper said, "I am committed to doing my duty as JP to the people of Manchester. I can't predict the future. I will pray for God's guidance and continued blessing."

Some JPs thought that Lyn was the more suitable candidate to take on the role of Custos. It came to public attention that some had expressed that they would prefer to resign than to work with Porteous if she was officially installed as custos.

Lyn said he is still not happy with Porteous's appointment and reiterated that his protest was not because he was passed over, but that he felt he needed to defend a point of principle.

Another JP, Joyce Powell believes that the number of her colleagues who were truly against the appointment were in the minority, in contrast to Lyn, who maintains that Porteous is custos for a "minority" of the people.

Freckleton said that she does not believe that the controversy surrounding the issue has affected the image of the Lay Magistrates Association in Manchester as the JPs have the right to express their opinions.

Porteous, herself, told the Sunday Observer that she did not wish to make any comment until things "settle down".

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COMMENTS (3)

Dan smith
2/5/2012

Was she born in Jamaica, JLP the brown man party.

wanda woeman
2/5/2012

It can’t be that we do the wrong things and after nine days it is time to move on. Not saying that what was done in the instant case was wrong although I have my thoughts on it, but at least it left room for doubt. it shouldn't be just business as usual going forward. Steps should be taken to prevent a recurrence, because as it turns out it is not the Custos or even the ex-P.M. who are being impugned, but the good name of the justices of the peace.
The JPs should insist that the selection process be taken out of the realm of politics in how the selection and appointments are made.

Paul Gentles
2/5/2012

Our system is too politicised. Largely our politics as practiced is the main cause of the breakdown in trust of political appointees - these people are viewed as tribalist; fairplay and justice only recognised when its against one of "their own".
We need to have a buffer where more private, non-aligned people engage the community. Just the thought that treatment wont be fair because of perceived bias is a defeat of the system.People will resort to informal measures.

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