Chuck calls on pastors to serve justice ministry
Article of Interest
Article of Interest
Published by The Daily Gleaner on Sept. 15, 2011 - A SHORTAGE of justices of the peace (JPs) across the island has prompted Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck to urge more religious leaders to volunteer to serve.
"We need to double - perhaps, triple - the number of JPs in Jamaica ... . Not only do we need more, but we need people of high moral standing in the community and people of integrity and honesty to become JPs. Quite frankly, I think more pastors need to serve in this capacity."
Chuck said he is slated to meet with custodes this month, noting that he will be asking them to encourage their colleagues to recommend more persons to be appointed to serve, as the jurisdiction of the JPs will be expanded and the ministry does not want to overwork those who have voluntarily agreed to serve.
The minister was speaking last week during a meeting with religious leaders from several denominations to have consultations on how they can assist the ministry in their respective capacities.
"We need some more personnel and volunteers to assist people who are traumatised and some of the best persons to give us assistance are the pastors in the communities, who understand when people are traumatised," Chuck said.
The justice minister said he wanted the ministers' fraternal across Jamaica to lend additional support to the Victim Support Unit (VSU) of the Ministry of Justice. This, he said, could be done if the church leaders themselves volunteer, as well as recommend and recruit volunteers to counsel victims in their respective parishes.
"I know that people feel more comfortable and willing to talk to a pastor more so than a teacher, a policeman or even their family members. This is why I think it is so important for more pastors to volunteer to counsel for the VSU, as we have far too many situations in Jamaica where people feel as if they have no one to turn to," said Chuck.
"We need to double - perhaps, triple - the number of JPs in Jamaica ... . Not only do we need more, but we need people of high moral standing in the community and people of integrity and honesty to become JPs. Quite frankly, I think more pastors need to serve in this capacity."
Chuck said he is slated to meet with custodes this month, noting that he will be asking them to encourage their colleagues to recommend more persons to be appointed to serve, as the jurisdiction of the JPs will be expanded and the ministry does not want to overwork those who have voluntarily agreed to serve.
The minister was speaking last week during a meeting with religious leaders from several denominations to have consultations on how they can assist the ministry in their respective capacities.
"We need some more personnel and volunteers to assist people who are traumatised and some of the best persons to give us assistance are the pastors in the communities, who understand when people are traumatised," Chuck said.
The justice minister said he wanted the ministers' fraternal across Jamaica to lend additional support to the Victim Support Unit (VSU) of the Ministry of Justice. This, he said, could be done if the church leaders themselves volunteer, as well as recommend and recruit volunteers to counsel victims in their respective parishes.
"I know that people feel more comfortable and willing to talk to a pastor more so than a teacher, a policeman or even their family members. This is why I think it is so important for more pastors to volunteer to counsel for the VSU, as we have far too many situations in Jamaica where people feel as if they have no one to turn to," said Chuck.
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