A JUSTICE of the Peace is responsible for the preservation of the peace in the parish for which he is appointed and in pursuance of this duty, should the occasion arise, he is empowered to make the necessary proclamation provided by the Riot Act, calling on tumultuous assemblies to disperse. This is commonly known as reading the Riot Act and should only be done at the request of an officer or of a Senior sub-officer of Police, and when, in the discretion of the Justice of the Peace, the situation warrants it.

(a) The Justice of the Peace must stand amongst, or as near to the rioters as he can safely come, and with a loud voice command or cause to be commanded, silence, and with a loud vice proclaim as follows:

"Our Sovereign Lady the Queen chargeth and commandeth all persons assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful businesses, upon the pains contained in the Riot Act- God Save the Queen."

(b) This proclamation should only be made if 12 or more persons are concerned in the disorder.

(c) Not only is the Justice of the Peace empowered to it, but he is required by law to do it, if called upon by the police and if, in his own discretion he deems it necessary. The effects of such proclamation are as follows:-

(i) The police and persons helping them are indemnified against demands for any injury caused to rioters after the proclamation.

(ii) Riot is a common-law misdemeanour punishable by imprisonment with hard labour for a period not exceeding two years, but people who do not disperse within one hour after the reading are guilty of felony, and are liable at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for life with or without hard labour.

From pharmacist to JP

WESTERN BUREAU:

A PHARMACIST at the Montego Bay Type IV Health Centre on Creek Street in Montego Bay, Mrs. Joyetta Beech, one of Montego Bay's newest Justices of the Peace (JP), has been serving her community for several years.

"I have been a pharmacist for over 20 years," Mrs. Beech said. "I have been working at Type IV from about 1993, caring for people in the health field."

Officially sworn in on Thursday, March 25, 2004, Mrs. Beech told The Gleaner that she felt honoured to be asked to serve as a JP and considers her new post a privilege.

"I am privileged to act in such a position," she said. "As the name Justice of the Peace suggests, I hope to achieve justice, fairness in all aspects that I can and peace." Accordingly she aims to promote peace in the work area and the community.

Acknowledging the many facets of her new post, Mrs. Beech said that while her position as a JP will require her to attend the Montego Bay Petty Sessions Court, as a person in the pharmaceutical industry, she hopes to be working with the Drug Court as well.

"My interest lies in the Drug Court because there, you can do reformation of people who are involved drugs."

A mother of one, Mrs. Beech said that she enjoys the support of her family in relation to new post, especially her eight-year-old son Lenoi, who is quite excited by her new appointment.

"He is a handful at times," she said. "When I leave work and go home I have to give him a lot of attention because he needs it. (However), he likes my being a JP and thinks I am going to be wearing a uniform and carrying a gun like the police."

Claudine Housen

This post is serious

WESTERN BUREAU:

CAROLYN GAIL Fisher was born in Kingston and is the Branch Manager at the Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) in Montego Bay, a company she has worked with for more than 20 years. Mrs. Fisher regards her appointment as Justice of the Peace as a serious commitment to community and local justice. "Being a Justice of the Peace is a role that has to be taken seriously," Mrs. Fisher said. "People need to be sensitised as to the importance and the implications of the role and when this is in place there will be a reduction in corrupt practices on both sides."

Her involvement in community affairs ranges from her membership in the Soroptimist Club, assisting at the Montego Bay Community Girls Home at Irwin, as well as her membership on the Holy Trinity Anglican Church Committee and the Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF).

Monique Hepburn

Want to make myself available

Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

A MINISTER of Religion, who pastors the Refuge Temple Apostolic Faith on Fustic Road in Montego Bay, and a Marriage Officer, Dudley Hamilton became a JP almost by divine intervention.

"We have a Marriage Officer Association which meets once a month," said Mr. Hamilton. "Three years ago we had established it and we asked Mr. Ben Claire to launch it, he was Minister of Justice then, and he was the one that made the recommendation that all marriage officers should be a JP."

From there the recommendation was made to the Custos through his representative, Mr. Rudolph Parkinson, who was present at the launch. Despite his admission that the appointment took sometime to come to fruition, Mr. Hamilton said that he plans to serve the community to the best of his ability.

"I will help in any area I can as a JP," he said. "Also, in our swearing in we were introduced to Judge Valerie Smith who had given us some areas in which we could work to assist especially in a community where you have people who are affiliated with drugs and other abusive substances."

"I would like to be trained for that (drug rehabilitation) when the time comes," Mr. Hamilton continued. "The church is on Fustic Road and Roosevelt Avenue and almost every week you hear of a killing or a stabbing in the market. There are drug addicts there and crime has become so prevalent in that area. I want to make myself available to help."

Mr. Hamilton can be reached at: Refuge Temple Apostolic Faith (nearby the food market), Tel: 979-1310 (church), 388- 3549 (cell)

A dedicated woman

Monique Hepburn, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

MS. ALMA Williams is known to residents in St. James and western Jamaica, who endearingly refer to her as "Ms. Alma". She hails from Hamstead, St. Mary and has dedicated more than 40 years to the social development movement in St. James. The winner of numerous awards and accolades for her involvement in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) Culinary Arts Competition and the 4-H Clubs, Ms. Alma is currently the project Co-ordinator of the Uplifting Adolescent Programme (UAP) which is sponsored United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The UAP operates under the auspices of the Sam Sharpe Teachers College and assists with educational funding for children whose parents cannot afford to pay for their tuition or books.

"I love to help young people and I insist on not only their academic development but their spiritual development as well," said Ms. Alma. "I take pride in the fact that I am in a position to help to guide them."

Speaking on her new role as a Justice of the Peace, Ms. Alma explained that the role enables her to be acquainted with more people. She contends that JP's must be ware that the position comes with great responsibility and as such the manner in which they conduct themselves is should always be at the forefront of their minds.

In dismissing corrupt JPs, Ms. Alma warns members of the public not to support them, "You have to keep your eyes open and be careful and upright in your deeds."

Alma Williams, Sunvalley Road, Glendevon, Montego Bay, Telephone: 952-3484

His concern for the youths

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE HUSTLE and bustle of Kingston drove Mr. Charles Kong to the quiet climes of Montego Bay in 1976.

He has not looked back since. Currently the manager of the Overton Plaza Limited, Mr. Kong said his goal to find a more sedate life in the city in St. James has become a reality and he even inherited life at the beach.

Admitting that he had originally refused the position of JP, Mr. Kong said that he changed his mind with a little persuasion from the Custos who further broadened his vision as to the needs of the Montego Bay
community.

"He asked me about four years ago," Mr. Kong said. "I had refused then but after he had spoken to me this last time I changed my mind. He said that he needed JPs from all walks of life and that he did not want anyone in Montego Bay to say that they do not know a JP."

Since his installment in March of this year, Mr. Kong told The Gleaner that with the new requirement for passports, he has been getting a reasonable amount of people who he was able to help. One of his areas of concern though, he said, was the rehabilitation of youth who abuse drugs.

"They have a new thing at the courthouse with the youth and drug rehabilitation," Mr. Kong said. "I hope to help somewhere along that line. They have not done the roster yet because we are newly appointed. I hope that when they have a Lay Magistrates meeting that we will get to the meat of that."

Mr. Kong can be contacted at: Overton Plaza Limited, 3 Church Street, Montego Bay, Tel: 952-3030