‘Bottom Drewsland’ needs a JP
FOR MORE than a decade, residents of Davidson Avenue and surrounding areas in the section of Drewsland which houses the football field, have lived without a justice of the peace (JP) in their midst. Now they say this is making their lives miserable when they are seeking to access the services of a JP.
“When we as citizens live here and have any form of document to sign, we don’t have even one JP to sign it. You have a lady up by Drewsland top (Headley Avenue), and when you have an emergency and want a paper to sign, she is not doing it,” Sonia Lettman declared at a Gleaner/RISE Life Management On the Corner forum in the community last Monday.
“Come on, man, we are citizens, we are human beings. Not because gun might be firing, is not everybody firing guns. We need somebody to look out for us.
“We were told that Patrick Roberts is the councillor and the JP. Where can we find Patrick?” added Lettman.
Other residents who turned out at the forum held at ‘Romie’s Corner’ in the community, argued that reaching Roberts’ constituency office in a neighbouring community could require venturing into areas where they might not be welcome.
IN NEED OF REPRESENTATION
According to the residents, if a member of the community is arrested and needs representation, they have no choice but to contact an elder neighbour, Clyde Duncan, to represent them.
But Duncan, affectionately called ‘Romie’, cannot sign documents as he is not a JP, and while his neighbours believe he would be ideal to serve in that role, he is unsure of how to become a JP.
“I would do it. I don’t too understand it, but I would do it if I get the full understanding of it,” said Duncan, who also expressed concern about how his decision to serve as a JP would inconvenience his family.
“Nobody likes to be bothered,” interjected a male participant, launching the rest of the forum into a chorus.