ST JAMES, Jamaica — Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck, has called on justices of the peace (JPs) to play a more active role in helping to weed out criminal elements and fostering peace and stability in communities.

According to a release on Saturday, Chuck, who was addressing the JP Sensitisation Session at the Grand Palladium Hotel in Hanover on Friday, said that the public officers have a critical part to play in stemming crime and violence in the society.

“Every single one of us will have to address the question of how we can assist in reducing the number of murders, violent assaults and wrongdoings of all kinds in our homes, neighbourhoods, communities, parishes and right across Jamaica,” he said. “Well, justices of the peace you have to work closely with the police. You have to tell your community members that, if they know of gangsters and gunmen that they must be exposed. We cannot continue to be afraid.”

The minister urged the officers to get organised through JP associations to more effectively carry out their roles.

He further informed that the Government is providing $500,000 to support [each] JP association with an additional $500,000 slated for disbursement by the end of February.

He noted the possibility of increased funding in the next financial year.

“We want the JP associations to be very active…to deal with many of the challenges that face our communities and this country. The one that faces us… is the violence and the murders,” the minister pointed out.

“We want to get the murder rate below 1,000 in 2024 and every single one of you can play your part. Discuss within your JP association, discuss with one another on how we can remove the quarrels, the disputes and the conflicts within your community because if you can save one life, it will assist in reducing the number of murders,” he pointed out.

Minister Chuck also instructed the JPs to direct quarrelling families, neighbours, spouses and friends to utilise the ministry’s Restorative Justice Programme or Victim Services to resolve their conflicts and receive counselling.

The JP Sensitisation Session was the fourth in a series of events being held across the island.

Officers from the parishes of St James, Hanover and Westmoreland took part in the day’s activities under the theme: ‘Securing Your Legacy.’

The session included presentations on the services offered by entities under the ministry such as the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) and the Administrator General’s Department, and the role of JPs in authenticating documents to enable individuals to access these services.