Forty-five new JPs
FORTY-FIVE justice of the peace (JP) were sworn in at the High Court in Suva, yesterday.
Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo reminded the inductees that being a JP was very important and their role was sacred to the communities in Fiji.
“You are now part of the judicial system, your role is to protect the community,” he said.
“The role cast on you as justice of the peace is quite sacred and the community relies on you”.
While feeling honoured and grateful for the opportunity to further serve their communities, most of the inductees had common reasons as to why they applied to be a JP.
Nadi school teacher Fazim Sheik said being a JP would help those living in Nadi get their documents authorised as while there are many JPs, only a few are available at any one time.
“I noticed that a lot of people needed help and in Nadi there’s an issue of finding JPs,” he said.
“There are a lot of JPs but you can’t find them. When it’s time to find them, they are either not in office or they’ve knocked off early.”
Seventy-four-year-old Anaseini Yalayala was the oldest of the group.
“I live in Navuniivi, Ra and we hardly have any JP in my area,” she said.
“So to try and help those in my community, I’ve taken up this role to make it easy for them instead of travelling all the way to another area to get their documents signed”.
Being the daughter of a former JP in Labasa, Ranadiceva Raluna, 61, said there’s hardly any JPs found in Labasa as well.
“There is a lack of JPs in Labasa, especially in Labasa Town,” she said.
“People would come in the mornings from their village to see a JP, but return home in the afternoons without their documents signed.
“So I have decided to be a JP so I can serve the people in Labasa”.