MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Mandeville businessman Trevor Heaven was recently appointed as the new president of the Manchester chapter of the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica.

A former second vice-president of the Organisation, he took over from Ulit Brackett, retired principal of the Mile Gully High School; in North West Manchester, who has been leading the organisation for the past three years.

Heaven told the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Golf View Hotel that his plans and objectives for growing the chapter will be arrived at through consultation with his colleague justices of the peace.

“I commit to do my very best to uphold the constitution and the by-laws of this Chapter and to try my utmost to, of course with your support, to build on the legacy of my predecessor,” he said.

Heaven said justices of the peace must be prepared to serve their communities and their country in meaningful ways in what is a difficult local and external environment. Without that commitment, they should give up their commissions, he said.

“…There is a global financial meltdown, the evolution of technology in a developing global landscape, we see a never-ending energy crisis, we see our people with one of the lowest productivity index in the world, prevalence of drugs and violence, the inefficient education system, a lack of respect for human life and of course as you hear pretty much too often, the destruction and abuse of our children… This is the environment we as justices must exist in,” Heaven said.

“We must play our part in nurturing and mentoring; lend a hand. I charge you that, if you can, do a good deed every day. If we as justices are not prepared to participate in meaningful development of our country and serving our communities I say give up the commission… Our primary objective must be to make good people better,” he added.

Oswald Burchenson, senior resident magistrate for Manchester encouraged the new executive to lend a voice to the lobbying efforts for the development of a modern judicial complex in the parish.

“Some years ago we negotiated along with your (former) custos Dr Gilbert Allen and acquired 40 acres of land out in Kingsland (Central Manchester); it seems to me that it has gone very quiet over the last few years. I think it is the time for you to be dangerously dissatisfied about the state of things. We can’t allow the lands to stay out there and be squatted on. It is for us to have a modern judicial complex to serve the needs not only of Manchester, but St Elizabeth, Clarendon and the adjacent parishes… There are means of getting the funds to build that complex and you must attack it from day one,” he said.

Burchenson expressed gratitude to the organisation for its support to the justice system in Manchester including presiding in the petty session court.

Guest speaker Billy Heaven, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports, and Education (CHASE) Fund said that Justices of the Peace are “standard bearers” and there is a need for a strong programme of continuing education particularly because of their expanding role.

The Chase Fund CEO, who is a relative of the new president of the lay magistrates’ Manchester chapter and serves as a justice of the peace in St Andrew, reminded the group of the need to be “professional, courteous and impartial”.

“…People look to us for guidance, people look to us as role models and we must keep it that way. [The office of justice of the peace] is not a special position of influence, but an honourary one which requires us to conduct ourselves in a way that promotes public confidence in the integrity and independence of the office. We are part, my friends, of a great tradition, we are part of a noble institution, we are part of an honourary office that is well over 650 years…” he said.

Outside of the core duties of lay magistrates in Manchester, they have been reaching out to the wider community in other ways.

Through an education trust established in honour of Dr Gilbert Allen and his wife Georgia, it was reported at an appreciation function last November that disbursements were made to seven students at the primary and high school levels.

It was noted at the AGM that a major project on the agenda is the completion of the first phase of the construction of a lay magistrates’ secretariat at 24 Grove Road, just outside Mandeville. Funding is being sought for the venture.

At the groundbreaking ceremony late last year it was revealed that approximately one acre of land was leased from the government and the project is to be completed in three phases at a cost of over J$30 million.

Related organisations such as the Manchester branch offices of the Victim Support Unit and the Probation Office are also expected to be housed at the location.