JP Association seeks higher standards
Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of the Supreme Court from all over the country will meet in Belize City on Saturday. It’s the third annual general meeting of the association, formed in 2000 to oversee the affairs of these important people. President Adrian “Danny” Madrid says the last twelve months have been spent implementing a work plan that includes formalizing the way in which JPs are appointed. Madrid says now it’s time to go back to the membership for a new mandate.
Adrian “Danny” Madrid, President, JP’s Association
“So this year now is to report on the last A.G.M. plan of action that we presented to our fellow JP’s. And that plan of action that we presented was to establish chapters in every district of the country of Belize.”
Patrick Jones
“Has that been accomplished?”
Adrian “Danny” Madrid
“That has been accomplished, yes. As a mater of fact, we have set presidents in each district… A promise that we made in our plan of action that we will establish an office for the association. We have done that. We promise that we will employ somebody to run the affairs of the association, we have done that. So now there is another plan of action that we will be presenting at this A.G.M.”
“We realize that there was nothing in the records, so at the present moment we hare are working to get all JPs in our records, meaning that where you bring your photographs, your address, your telephone number because our idea is, that’s for the future to establish a directory. And we don’t know if we will do it with the telephone companies or if we’ll do it on our own. So that if you are on Albert Street and you need a justice of the peace you open “A” and you find Albert Street and it will tell you exactly how much JPs you have on Albert Street, his address, her address and telephone number; so that you can get the service of that JP when you need it. Because many times, and it happens every day, they can’t find a JP.”
Another major accomplishment of the association last year is the concurrence of the general membership and the Attorney General’s Ministry that those elected to run city and town councils countrywide automatically qualify for appointment as Justices of the Peace. Madrid says it will help to compliment the work that the elected officials do in their respective communities.
Adrian “Danny” Madrid
“All mayors of the country who are not a Justice of the Peace will be appointed a Justice of the Peace. All mayors who have been a Justice of the Peace will be appointed a senior Justice of the Peace, so we’ll have all mayors of the country at our meeting on Saturday.”
Patrick Jones
“If part of the functions of the Justice of the Peace is to hold public officials in check, why appoint the mayors Justices of the Peace?”
Adrian “Danny” Madrid
“Today no, a Justice of the Peace is not to check on the public, a justice of the peace duty is to serve his community, his fellow Belizeans, his fellow citizens. And there are more roles that the JP can do. He can serve as a Magistrate and that’s what we want to do. Our agenda for this year, which will be on the plan of action, is to educate JP’s. That’s what we have to do, have seminars so that JP’s, when a JP holds a list, or hold a form that he has to sign, he can look at that form and say ok I understand what I am signing.”
Madrid says that for the first time, those who are sworn in this weekend, except the Mayors, have all applied and met certain criteria for being a Justice of the Peace. Saturday’s meeting, which will be held at the St. Mary’s Hall on North Front Street, starts at ten a.m. Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh will be the guest speaker. The JP’s Association operates out of office space on the second floor of the Commercial Centre donated by the Belize City Council.
