Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, the Opposition spokesperson on justice and gender affairs, has declared that the role and function of the vendor’s bailiff needs clarification.

In a statement this afternoon (June 7), the People’s National Party (PNP) noted that, since 2021, vendor’s bailiffs have not been granted any licence by the resident magistrate to carry out their functions in accordance with the laws of Jamaica.

Scott-Mottley said that Justice Minister Delroy Chuck had promised an amendment to the Act of 1974 to bring clarity to their role and function, but that this has yet to materialise. 

She said it has been alleged that the prevailing situation has created an unhealthy atmosphere among the vendors and court-appointed bailiffs, each accusing the other putting them out of business.

“We have known about this for years and nothing has been done about it and today, people’s livelihoods are threatened,” Scott-Mottley argued.

She said the situation was untenable as it is causing hardship on the vendor’s bailiffs who cannot earn an income.

“I am very concerned because these persons have children in universities and other commitments they cannot satisfy because of the lack of earning,” she said.  

CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS HAS EXISTED FOR QUITE SOME TIME

The Hire-Purchase Act of 1974 grants the vendor’s bailiff the power to serve any notice, collect any money and recover possession of any goods on the vendor’s behalf under Part III of the Act. Before the situation arrived at the current impasse, the hundreds of summonses issued by the courts’ office every month would be shared by the vendor and court-appointed bailiff.

Unfortunately, the PNP argued, this is no longer the case. 

Scott-Mottley said the current state of affairs has existed for quite some time and that, at the next opportunity, she would again the matter directly with Chuck, asking him to clarify the situation or provide a plausible explanation for the delay in granting the licence by the resident magistrates.