Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson is lamenting the significant impact of crimes of passion, rooted in domestic, interpersonal and community relations on the crime statistics reflecting now across Jamaica. 

“This is where our Justices come in.  We still have 16-17 per cent of our murders being interpersonal violence.”  He further notes that “A lot of these are not known to us (the police) until they happen.”  

The commissioner was speaking to members of the St Andrew Justice of the Peace Association (SAJPA) at its first quarterly meeting at the Police Officers Club last Saturday (March 25).  

He called on Justices of the Peace to help to bring escalating interpersonal tensions to the attention of the police early for referral to the Domestic Violence Centres located at police dtations.

Anderson noted the role of the Justices of the Peace in supporting the work of the police in communities in strengthening public order.  

“Let me just thank you all for your service because your work impacts our work.  And quite often, your work prevents it from becoming our work.  I know our Justices have been working hard at supporting us (the police) to enforce, but also doing your own thing as leaders within the community.”

Meanwhile, Custos Ian Forbes said the St Andrew Justice of the Peace Association has also been active in communities both in-person and through increased used of an improved information data capture system to inform charity efforts; participating in multiple workshops and sensitisation sessions, and to ensure JPs stay abreast of key legislations, regulations and trends that may impact their duties.

 “One thing that this new executive has been charged with, is for greater inclusion right across the board, for persons to get involved and participate in for the benefit of our organisation,” Forbes, president of the SAPJA said.

He reported that 141 new Justices of Peace were commissioned in the six months up to December 2022, with hundreds of new applicants being screened and processed to add to the over 2,300 JPs currently on the register for St Andrew.

The new SAJPA Board

Newly appointed chairman, Senior Superintendent Norris Rhoomes, took the opportunity to introduce the new SAJPA Board, first vice chair Michelle Henry; second vice chair, Donna Stephenson; treasurer Glaister Ricketts; assistant treasurer, Michelle Wilson-Reynolds; secretary, Karen Sinclair Lym and assistant secretary Maria Morgan, along with directors Beverly Williamson, David Whittaker, Sheryl Williams, Carlette DeLeon, Sonia Jones and Audrey McIntosh.

The SAJPA chairman also unveiled a comprehensive strategic plan for the St Andrew JPs, outlining several objectives for its two-year term.

Members were encouraged to submit outstanding annual reports before March 31.  The next meeting is set for June 23.