COOPERS PEN, Trelawny — Justice Minister Delroy Chuck is citing the need for the number of justices of the peace (JPs) in the parish of Trelawny to be doubled by the end of next year.

He said that the number of JPs serving in the parish is way below what is required to fulfil the needs of the people Trelawny.

“We need more justices of the peace, [there are] 249 on the roster, we need to double that amount before the end of 2019. I know that another 60 or 70 will be commissioned in November, but we need at least 500 in the parish of Trelawny,” the justice minister informed.

Chuck then stated that the workload is demanding for JPs, noting that if he has his way, each parish would have some 1,000 JPs on their roster.

“If you ask me, time permitting and I am around, I want at least 1,000 JPs across every parish. The truth of the matter is the work is demanding and the more hands aboard, then the less for each of you,” Chuck explained.

He was speaking at the commissioning ceremony for 22 new JPs held at Mangos Beach Resort recently.

The justice minister called on Paul Muschett, the Custos of Trelawny, and his staff, to identify suitable people to recruit into the voluntary service.

“So, Custos, you and your staff, you and the JPs [need to] identify persons of unblemished character, persons whose integrity cannot be impeached, and encourage them to become justices of the peace. So all of you here, especially newly commissioned JPs, encourage persons in your community close to you, who you know, to apply, because we need all the voluntary service that this parish and this country can provide to help us in the pursuit of peace and justice,” Chuck appealed.

He urged the new JPs to be role models for the youngsters to emulate, arguing that in far too many communities “scammers, the criminal don, the gangsters….” are the persons who the youth idolise.

“You the JPs have to be proactive and make yourself that shining beacon within your community so that others may emulate everything you do, emulate your actions, and also be led on the straight and narrow path. Because, JPs, if you don’t do it, who is going to? You are the community leaders, you are the persons who we hope to train, you are the persons who we believe can demonstrate the integrity and the character that we feel that others can follow, and I am depending on the JPs across Jamaica to be the rebirth of what is good,” Chuck pleaded.