FORMER Jamaica Baptist Union president Rev Dr Roy Henry on Sunday called on judges and other administrators of justice to allow God’s righteous principles to guide them in the daily discharge of their duties, as the country cannot enjoy peace without justice.

Henry, who was addressing a gathering of judges and attorneys during a service at the East Queen Street Baptist Church to mark the Michaelmas Session of the Home Circuit Court that started in September, advised that “uprightness” and “equity” should be the two main principles guiding this effort.

“Those who God appoints to [administer] must seek God. [Remember] there will be no peace where there is no justice,” Henry said.

Expounding his thesis on uprightness, Henry said that justice should not be mere talk but a lifestyle that should be practised at all times by its administrators.

He noted further that this uprightness must also involve faithfulness to see justice done “even when our lives may be at risk”.

Concerning equity, Henry impressed upon the congregation, which also included Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dorothy Lightbourne, that the principle of “do unto others as you would like them do unto you”, as taught by Jesus, should be faithfully applied. He said that this impartial practice of justice must also be mixed with mercy and love.

“What a wonderful society we would have today if we practised this,” said Henry, as he implored, “the same laws that apply to the uptown man should apply to the man downtown.”

Henry also added that all Jamaicans, notwithstanding their social standing, should enjoy unhindered access to the system of justice and called on the nation to pray for those who are responsible for the administration of justice in our country.