MONTEGO BAY, St James – Despite the negative connotations surrounding some justices of the peace (JPs) across the island, newly commissioned JP for the parish of St James, Ricardo Robinson, is determined to uphold a high standard while using his new office to mould marginalised youth into upstanding citizens.

“I hope to get into some more mentorship. I have done it before, but I hope to do it more seriously as a JP…I want to mentor boys as I personally believe that boys are more marginalised than young girls,” said Robinson in an interview with the Jamaica Observer West after a recent commissioning ceremony.

For Robinson, being granted the opportunity to further serve his home parish is a humbling experience.

The 30-year-old man told the Observer West that he had long dreamt of being sworn in as a JP since he was a highschooler.

“My father is a JP…he has been serving for over 20 years, so that was my first level of influence. From schoolboy days, [through] high school and university I have been a part of several service clubs like Circle K and Interact Club. In my young adulthood I’ve been a part of the Rotaract Club and other service entities,” Robinson noted.

“This was something that I have been aiming to achieve for some time now. I have always seen myself in the role. I have seen the doors that my father has helped to open for people, and I want to do that. I am grateful to now be placed in that capacity so I can do more.”

Robinson, however, stated that it was his journey through service as a young adult that has brought him to a place of wanting to do more. Service above self, he said, has been a mantra he adopted many years ago when he became involved in the Rotaract service club.

“I have been a Rotaractor for [almost] six years. I served as the treasurer for three years and I am currently serving as the fund-raising director. We have done several projects from donation to girls’ homes, women’s centres, homeless shelters, and water sanitation. Even just yesterday [recently] we paid for a water truck to supply the Sudbury All-Age School… so, we have been serving for a while in the parish of St James and by extension Jamaica,” Robinson said.

“This (being a JP) is really to add to what we are already doing. It gives me a bigger platform to serve.”

While he understands the reasoning behind why many Jamaicans are calling on the Government to rid the country of the JP system, Robinson told the Observer West that he believes there is still a need for it.

“It is important. To piggyback on what the Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck recently said. He [said] that when the National Identification System (NIDS) comes out 80 per cent of the verification process of what JPs do would be covered, but there is bail process, identification parade, sitting on the lay magistrate for petty sessions among other duties, so there are other things associated with being a JP. But what most individuals know JPs for are their roles in the verification of documents or addresses,” Robinson argued.

“In America they have notary publics though they have all the scientific and technological assistance, so Jamaica definitely still needs JPs.”

However, notwithstanding his stance, Robinson is condemning his fellow JPs who he says are bringing shame to the country and are the main reasons the purpose of a JP is being questioned by citizens.

“It is not right. We were told already that this is voluntary service, so for them to come into the thing wanting to solicit funds or sexual favours then you drop the ball. You were told that it is voluntary service, so if you see that it is going to be too expensive, don’t do it. I do not believe that JPs should be paid for rendering service,” said Robinson.

He stressed confidently that his character and intentions as a JP in St James can never be questioned.

“I have always been a youth who keeps myself out of certain things, so I don’t see myself falling prey to any unscrupulous behaviour. At the end of the day, I have my career as an insurance/investment advisor at Guardian Life and I am also an entrepreneur. I didn’t become a JP to eat extra food,” the young JP stressed.