Delroy Chuck, JLP MP for North East St Andrew, says that all MPs can function as justices of peace, but are reluctant to make this known in light of the burden of the duties.

“Not many MPs realise that while they are MPs they also have the powers of a JP. But many MPs, including myself, don’t want it to be known, because people are always running to me to sign papers,” Chuck told the House of Representatives.

He said that the problem was a severe shortage of JPs in inner-city and rural communities.

He said that enough JPs are not being appointed in sections of his constituency, like Grants Pen, Barbican, Shortwood and Liguanea, resulting in a grave shortage.

He attributed the situation to the lack of approval for appointment by the custodes.

“I have submitted at least 30 to 40 names and most of these are ministers of religion,” said Chuck. “It seems to me that there needs to be a different system for the appointment of JPs.”

He suggested that more school principals and ministers of religion, who are well known and who know the people in the communities very well, should be appointed.

Chuck made the point on November 7 during the debate on a bill amending the Justices of the Peace Jurisdiction Act to facilitate the issuing of tickets for littering offences under the National Solid Waste Management Act.

Parliament Schedule for week ending November 24

Tuesday, November 21 – Public Accounts Committee meets at 10:00 am.

The committee will continue reviewing the Sandals Whitehouse Hotel Project overruns.

House of Representatives meets at 2:00 pm to:

. Amend the Petroleum Act – Dr Omar Davies, minister of finance and planning;

. Amend the Corruption (Prevention) Act – Dr Peter Phillips, Leader of the House;

. Repeal the Public Gardens Regulations Act to make new provisions for the regulations of public parks and gardens – Roger Clarke, minister of agriculture;

. Answer Questions – Horace Dalley, minister of health, will answer questions from Dr Ken Baugh, Opposition spokesman on health.

Wednesday, November 22 – Meeting of the Joint Select Committee on the Proceeds of Crime bill at 10:00 am.

Friday, November 24 – Sitting of the Senate at 10:00 am.

House looks at neighbouring lands for expansion

Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives, Derrick Smith, on Wednesday raised the issue that the new arrangements for accommodating the media at meetings of the House and Senate will put the Opposition at a disadvantage.

Smith accused the Speaker of the House, Michael Peart, of reneging on an earlier agreement to allow cameramen to operate from the north and south galleries, which would allow for full coverage of both sides of the House.

Smith said that instead, the Speaker had reconfined the cameras to the small press gallery which is at the back of the Opposition benches: the result being that the Opposition members can only be shown on television from behind.

Chairman of the House Committee, Dr Peter Phillips, said that he had been informed that since the Speaker placed the restrictions on the media, they had requested to remain in the press gallery, despite the overcrowding.

It would seem that the cameramen are showing a preference for the gallery as it is only from there that they can effectively cover the Parliament. Using the north and south galleries would mean pulling up their equipment and racing to the other side each time a member on either side rises to speak.

By remaining in the press gallery, they get a full view of the Government members and, at least, the backs of the heads of the Opposition members.

But the primary issue at the joint meeting of the House and Senate committees was that of the expansion of the facilities.

The meeting confirmed that negotiations have started with owners of premises on Duke Street in the vicinity of Gordon House to acquire land for the expansion of the current facilities.

The committee also agreed that this should end speculation on whether a new building should be constructed. It also confirms support for the proposal made by the leader of the opposition, Bruce Golding, during last year’s budget debate that the current facilities only need to be extended.

Phillips said there was a strong feeling in environmental circles, and expressed in the media, that there is a need to reserve the green spaces at National Heroes Park for residents of the city.

However, the preparatory process is likely to take at least six months, and the committees will meet again in the third week of January to finalise a report to Parliament for debate.

There is also an issue over the administration of the land, which is owned by a friendly society which apparently no longer exists, and a need to determine the cost of the proposal and the source of the fundings that will be required.

Discussions are also to be held with Golding, who is the member of parliament for the area, about identifying a suitable area for the resettlement of residents squatting on the premises needed for the expansion.