Training for justices of the peace highlights critical role
WESTERN BUREAU:
OVER 200 justices of the peace from the parishes of St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland, accompanied by their respective custodes, participated in over four hours of training and information sharing on Friday February 9, at a sensitisation seminar organised by the justice ministry and held at the Grand Palladium Resort in Point, Hanover.
Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Justice, Kayla Sewell Mills, who chaired the day’s programme, said that the Hanover session – the fourth in a series, held under the theme “Securing Your legacy”– underscored the need for continued personal development for JPs, which was paramount to ensuring accountability and compliance with the Justices of the Peace Act of 2018.
“This sensitisation session provides for focused presentations on the services offered by the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) and the Accountant General’s Department, highlighting the critical role that justices of the peace play, including that of estate planning ... ,” Sewell Mills said.
Custos of Hanover, Dr David Stair complimented the JPs for the level of interest shown as evidenced by the large number in attendance. He shared that JPs need to be educated on the changes - several of which have taken place over the last few years - if they are to operate in an efficient manner.
“So let us open ourselves to it (the training) today, taking on an attitude of ‘I am never too old to learn’, rather than ‘there is nothing new under the Sun’. The latter sends us the way of the dinosaur and the former to a place of growth and excitement. Let us move for growth and excitement,” he told the JPs.
Custos of Westmoreland Canon Hartley Perrin also praised the move by the justice ministry to bring the training session to the JPs, arguing that this was in line with modern trends and development.
“We (JPs) are critically aware of the importance of securing our legacy as well as to position ourselves to have the capacity to assist others, who may, from time to time, approach us for help ... to be an effective justice of the peace means having the relevant skills and training to fulfil our mandate to serve our people with justice in our communities.”
He said that JPs are expected to be the linchpin that holds the fabric of society together while breaking down the walls of divisiveness and distrust.
Several of the participants shared that the session was relevant, informative, and educational and expressed a desire to have more such sessions scheduled regularly.
“This has left me empowered as I am more informed than when I was just commissioned as a JP. I think I am now better prepared to serve in the capacity,” one person said.
Among those agencies that made presentations or hosted display booths were the Accountant General’s Department, PICA, the Administrator General’s Department, the Court Administration Division, the Office of the Public Defender, and the Legal Aid Council.