THE EDITOR, Sir:JUST THOUGHT I would bring to public attention the fact that the management of National Commercial Bank (NCB) has recently decided that the organisation no longer had any confidence in the institution of the Justice of the Peace in Jamaica.
This is what was told to me last Wednesday (November 5) by the Manager of NCB at Harbour View and latterly by the corporate communication department at the bank's headquarters.
I had had the occasion to call the Harbour View Branch when someone who came to me for a reference to open a savings account reported that the Bank refused my character testimonial as "they no longer recognised JPs in Jamaica".
As I was shocked at this, I called the bank manager who confirmed what I had been told. A subsequent call to the corporate communication department at the Bank's headquarters at the Atrium confirmed the Bank's new policy that JPs are not recognised to give references.
I am still in a daze at this attack on an age-old institution by NCB. I will be reporting the matter to the Lay Magistrates Association so that this decision can be aired in the appropriate fora.
I am, etc.,
LESLIE N. BENNETT J.P.
St. Andrew
