JUSTICE Minister Delroy Chuck, in charging justices of the peace (JPs) to refrain from taking the role just to bolster their status and “be haughty”, bemoaned the fact that the majority of the over 11,000 who have been commissioned so far are missing in action.

“We now have over 11,000 JPs across Jamaica but sadly, not many are really active. The majority of them, sadly, having been commissioned, have returned to their verandah, back into their cocoon, and [are] not really interacting and being the light of their communities. I am not asking you to go out there and campaign like a politician but at least make yourself available,” the justice minister told over 100 newly minted judicial officers on Saturday.

Chuck, who was speaking during a commissioning ceremony for justices of the peace for St Andrew at Jamaica Defence Force’s Up Park Camp base, also reminded the cohort that “this is a voluntary work”.

“Far too many persons who apply to become JPs believe this is a status, an opportunity to profile, an opportunity to be haughty. I am begging you please, if you want respect, give respect. When you go about your duties, please do so with a sense of graciousness, civility, decency. You must enhance this vocation, not bring it into disrepute,” he stated.

In 2022 the justice minister, speaking at the launch of the alternative dispute resolution services public education campaign at the justice ministry, said far too many Jamaicans have been complaining to him that individuals who have been commissioned have redefined the term JP, which stands for justice of the peace, to mean “just profiling”.

In reiterating that JPs are not to charge for their services, Chuck urged individuals to refuse bribes that might come their way, warning that they would be axed if found guilty of dishonesty.

“I beg all of you from here on: Try to live a life of honesty — even if you weren’t before. For God’s sake, I beg of you, turn over a new leaf if necessary because I see far too many people, justices of the peace who I know, because people complain about these JPs, how they behave, and how they collect money. I beg you, even if you intend to, don’t do it because we are going to decommission you if we find out — and I know it is happening across Jamaica,” Chuck said to laughter.

He, in the meantime, urged JPs to educate themselves on issues before dispensing information to citizens.

“Continually inform yourselves…one of the worst things you can do as a justice of the peace is to misinform and mislead, and it happens. Because you are a JP people look up to you for information, and it is better for you to say, ‘I don’t know’ rather than to deceive people,” the minister said.

“The country has social media misleading enough, don’t be a part of it. Try to straighten out the misinformation, the lies, the propaganda that spreads across the country. You must be a part of the Jamaica that wants better for our people. You are part of the justice system now, and when I make my sectoral presentation I will be indicating to the country that the court system is now at its best shape ever and the justice system is at the best shape in our history,“ he said.