‘Injustice’ of the peace

MAY PEN, Clarendon:

Sexual harassment, creative requests, demand for payment and eerie behaviour are among the things members of the public have to deal with in soliciting the services of a justice of the peace (JP) in the parish of Clarendon, a recent Sunday Gleaner undercover probe has revealed.

Although some maintain the integrity of the office, others are asking or accepting payment for a public service that should be free of charge, disregarding the legislation that governs them. Some even imply they would accept other “favours”.

Last week, The Sunday Gleaner learnt of one JP in the parish capital of May Pen reportedly requesting two phonecards as payment for authenticating documents for members of the public.

When we visited her, however, she declined to sign a photograph and assist with a letter of recommendation for an undercover female reporter, stating, “No, Ma’am. I can’t do that ‘cause I don’t know you. I can’t do that, darling. That is trouble for me. I have to know you.”

Upon enquiry, she then gave directions to an office from which several other JPs operated, indicating that they may be able to assist.

En route to the other location, the team met up with a woman and asked for further directions. Upon learning the nature of the mission, the woman discouraged the team from seeking the services of a specific JP at said office. In order to conceal his identity, The Sunday Gleaner will refer to him as JP Blue.

Quizzed further, the woman related that JP Blue was known to collect payment for his services, admitting that she had utilised his service on several occasions at a cost of $200, which he stated was contribution towards Internet service and printer ink.

The team expressed concern that he may withhold his service since we were unknown to him; however, the woman was quick to indicate that that would not be a problem, as she was granted the service at her first encounter.

Accompanying us to the office, the woman noted that JP Blue was out of office.

The Sunday Gleaner team approached another justice, JP Red, who stated, “but I don’t know you. I can sign the photo, but what I must recommend you say?”

Not long after, however, he agreed to write the letter, adding that he was only doing so because he liked helping people, “but most a the times you help people, them don’t come back to give thanks”.

JP Red, who said he has been serving for decades, asked our female team member if she could type, then led her to another section of the office to use a laptop.

‘RETROFIT IT TO MATCH YOURSELF’

“Just go on it and you will find my letterhead. You’re just going to cut and paste, you hear? You’re going to retrofit it to match yourself. Yaah go change the date. Yaah go put in who you sending it to, and you now going to put in your name and your address. If there are any words in it that you don’t like, you can fix,” he instructed.

He admitted that even without knowing people’s background or character, they might be availed of his service, especially “if you’re a female and yuh look good. Once yuh look good you can get tru”.

“The justice minister said we not supposed to do anything for people we don’t know, but that a weh justice minister say, but when you see people in need now you affi just bend over … although you wouldn’t bend over and help me. I know how ladies stay,” he said to the young female team member.

During the visit that lasted over an hour due to device malfunction, JP Red made several remarks about marriage, relationship and sex. He also asked the young woman if she was interested in dating older men. The visit was extremely uncomfortable and awkward.

He also proposed that he could “set up” the young woman with his elderly colleague, JP Blue, but her complexion might pose a hurdle as she wasn’t “brown enough”.

When the team member complained that his device was slow, JP Red responded, “Yuh nuh like things weh slow so yuh nuh have the patience fe deal with the old man then,” letting out a creepy laugh, then added, “young women like hardcore sex”.

JP Blue arrived at the facility some time after and was greeted with “me have a girl fe yuh!”

JP Blue proceeded to make similar inappropriate comments.

While The Sunday Gleaner team was there, a woman, who said she was visiting from overseas, came by and asked JP Blue to certify a photo for banking purposes. He agreed, but began repeatedly touching the woman on her upper body. It was evident she felt uncomfortable, but kept laughing awkwardly.

Both JPs Red and Blue noted that it would be a good idea for our young female team member to come work with them as “voluntary service” and “yuh might get a one patty for lunch”.

They also revealed that getting acquainted with them could unearth many opportunities, including networking with “the right people” and a possible job opportunity with a politician.

After the undercover female reporter finished typing her own recommendation letter and printed it, JP Red took the document – which stated that he has known her for five years – to sign it and affix his seal, but then began to complain that the table was too “tough”, hindering him to sign it.

“Woman like tough things, nuh true, Miss? Woman like tough tings!” shouted another JP at the facility.

Before leaving, JP Red requested that our female team member take his contact information and give him a call to “chit-chat”, adding, “we need to sit and really widen our acquaintances”.

The Sunday Gleaner female reporter was charged $500 for the service.

editorial@gleanerjm.com