ST JAMES, Jamaica — In a significant move to strengthen community-led security initiatives, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Delroy Chuck has commissioned 28 new Justices of the Peace (JPs) with a mandate to enhance collaborative crime prevention measures. The commissioning ceremony, held Friday at Grand-A-View Event Place, marked a strategic expansion of Jamaica’s community justice network.
Minister Chuck articulated a vision where JPs serve as critical intermediaries between law enforcement and citizens, leveraging their unique community positioning to facilitate intelligence sharing and public guidance. While clarifying that JPs won’t assume policing responsibilities, the minister emphasized their role in confidentially relaying credible information about criminal activities to authorities.
The justice minister framed crime reduction as a collective national endeavor requiring coordinated efforts between residents and security forces. He specifically urged the newly appointed JPs to utilize their influence to steer youth toward education and legitimate employment opportunities rather than criminal pathways.
Chuck’s address highlighted the dual role of JPs as both community confidants and law enforcement allies, noting their firsthand understanding of neighborhood dynamics makes them invaluable in bridging institutional gaps. The minister pointed to recent security improvements in St James as evidence that sustained partnership between community leaders and police produces tangible public safety benefits.
The commissioning ceremony represents Jamaica’s broader strategy to institutionalize community participation in crime prevention, recognizing that operational police work must be complemented by grassroots engagement to achieve lasting security gains.
