EIGHTEEN residents of Westmoreland were recently sworn in as Justices of the Peace for the parish of Westmoreland, at a ceremony held at the Savanna-la-Mar Court House in the parish.

Senior Resident Magistrate for the parish, Alayne Frankson, who delivered the keynote address, warned the 18 against corruption in the justice system and asked them not to yield to those who might want to take advantage of their positions.

“You must not yield to corruption,” warned RM Frankson. “People will seek to pay you to do things,” she added.

“There are persons who will be seeking to have you do things that you are not supposed to do. There are persons who will seek to mislead you. There are persons who will want to take advantage of your position for purposes that are clandestine. It is for you at all times to be guided by your conscience,” RM Frankson told the new JPs.

Attorney-at-law, Senator Frederick Hamaty also encouraged the JPs to use common sense when called upon to sign documents, especially those relating to passports. He warned that false identity would attract penalties of fine and confinement.

The batch of newly sworn in JPs will join the more than 240 already installed in the parish.