FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has criticised some justices of the peace (JPs) for acting as though they are above or better than other Jamaicans.

“With due respect…every single one of you is a JP. Not only are you an outstanding citizen, and probably highly recognised as an outstanding citizen, but I don’t want you to think you’re better than any other citizen in Jamaica,” said Chuck as he addressed a sensitisation session for JPs in Trelawny on Wednesday.

Chuck reminded the JPs that respect is reciprocal.

“When you want respect, you gain respect by respecting your fellow citizens. [There is] no reason for you to walk around with your head high telling the world that, ‘I am a JP; I’m better than you’. I’m not denying that you must walk around with your shoulders high, but people must respect you because of your behaviour and the way you deal with them is very important.

“I’m going to depend on you all JPs, not only to be an outstanding citizen, to be one that people can look up to, but you don’t demand respect, you earn respect. And you do so in the way you conduct yourself, in the way you treat your fellow citizens. So that when people sees you, they say, there goes a good person,” said Chuck.

He added: “But if you go around and say, ‘You must respect me, you know I am a JP in this neighbourhood,’ they will disrespect you and tell you about your parts and that’s the last thing I want to happen to any of the JPs. So I’m begging each of you just hear what I say. If you really move and conduct yourself in a decent, upright manner, and deal with your fellow citizens as they should, people will respect you,” added Chuck.

The justice minister also used the session to double down on his support for the formation of JP associations across the island.

The Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica (LMAJ), which represents JPs, has been at odds with the Chuck over his push for JP associations in each parish.

Recently, president of the LMAJ Lynden Trevor Heaven argued that there is no benefit in operating two associations to serve the same purpose.

But Chuck defended his stance as he rejected the notion that LMAJ represents all JPs

“I thought I had got over this where we want unity and we want the parishes and the JPs to act together, and that is why we decided to set up the JP associations, headed by the custodes, who will have an executive to assist him in the carrying out of duties in the parishes,” said Chuck.

“Unfortunately, over the last two weeks or so, I heard the president of the Lay Magistrates’ Association, Mr Trevor Heaven — who has had many meetings with me and his executive — And I tried to explain to him…lay magistrates are JPs, you are part of the Justice of the Peace Association in every parish, work with the custodes,” added Chuck.

He charged that LMAJ is a group of JPs trained in criminal law and procedure who act as judges in courts dealing with less serious crimes, with the aim of promoting restorative justice and reducing court backlogs.

“The custodes will be the one who decide where JPs [are placed], whether they serve in the Lay Magistrates’ Court, in the Drug Court, in the Children’s Court, in the Spirit Licence [Court]. But I heard him [Haven] unfortunately — in spite of the many discussion I’ve had with him — saying there’s no need for two organisations to represent JPs, and that as far as he’s concerned, the Lay Magistrates’ Association of Jamaica is a national body, [and] it will represent JPs. It won’t work,” declared Chuck.

“First of all, lay magistrates are JPs [but] not many JPs want to be lay magistrates. Those who have been trained, who want to serve in the court, we give them specialised training so they can serve in the court but… you serve as a JP,” Chuck added.

He implored lay magistrates who display arrogant behaviour to be modest.

“I’ve urged them, please, even though you serve in the Lay Magistrates’ Court, you must be humble and — with due respect to those of you who are lay magistrates — I see it wherever I go, the haughtiness amongst persons who serve in the Lay Magistrates’ Court, who would like to tell you they are judges, and somehow they have a better standing than JPs,” the justice minister charged.