- NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Fifty-one new Justices of the Peace were sworn in yesterday at Wolmer's Girls' school in St. Andrew. Family and friends turned out in large numbers for the occasion.
Andrew Wildes, Gleaner Writer
"JUSTICE IS immutable; it cannot be diluted. It must run down from the hills to the plains in pure, crystal unadulterated form."
These were the inspiring and poetic words of Justice Lloyd Ellis at the swearing-in ceremony of 51 new Justices of the Peace (JPs) at Wolmer's Girls' School in St. Andrew yesterday.
IMPARTIAL
Canon Weeville Gordon, Custos of Kingston, charged the incumbents to be impartial in carrying out their duties and gave stern warning against crafty practices of the office.
The Custos warned the new justices specifically against the witless signing of critical documents and arrest warrants, which the police must request before they may legally arrest a suspect.
"In many instances, the police have something against somebody and want him arrested. You must go through and find out everything about the case before you sign to have him arrested," Reverend Gordon sternly warned.
GREAT HONOUR
Meanwhile, chairman of the Police Public Complaints Authority, Justice Ellis, warned: "You would have seen and will see, and will know the ethos and circumstances which motivate our people, for you were with the people ... and now serve as lay magistrates."
"It's a very great honour to be given the responsibility to be a Justice of the Peace. It carries awesome responsibilities with it, and is one that should be treated with the necessary discipline so that the office is at no point seen in a negative light," Commander Sydney Ennis of the Jamaica Defence Force told The Sunday Gleaner after being sworn in.
