Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck has called on Justices of the Peace (JPs) to take a more active role in mentoring young people and encouraging them to pursue legitimate employment and skills development.

Addressing a JP sensitisation session at the Royalton in Negril, Westmoreland, on February 12, the minister pointed out that many young people have openly dismissed traditional jobs, believing they cannot earn enough through legal employment.

He said this mindset has led them into criminal circles where they become deeply entangled, and that ultimately results in violent and fatal confrontations.

The minister pointed out that despite significant developments in western Jamaica, the region continues to be plagued by illegal activities, particularly lottery scamming.

“Scamming, for one reason or another, seems to be a major difficulty in the western part of Jamaica, and out of the scamming nothing more than violence has occurred as they (perpetrators) fight over scarce resources,” said Chuck.

The minister emphasised that there is an urgent need for greater community intervention to curb the rise of this criminal enterprise among other unlawful operations.

“We have to talk to our young people. I agree that J$15,000 (minimum wage) might not be a livable wage, but it is something [or a start]. So, at least start out and, hopefully, things will improve,” Chuck said.

“Do something positive [for them] Justices of the Peace. We need your help,” the minister told the JPs.

The sensitisation session featured presentations from key agencies of government, including the Administrator General’s Department (AGD), Office of the Public Defender (OPD), National Identification & Registration Authority (NIRA), Registrar General’s Department (RGD), and the National Land Agency (NLA).

The event also included the election of new officers for the Westmoreland Justices of the Peace Association to further strengthen the organisational framework for JPs in the parish.