Some JPs renew call for a stipend, other benefits

By Nakinskie Robinson   

 

Some Justices of the Peace are again appealing to the Ministry of Justice to consider providing a stipend and other benefits which they argue are crucial to the volunteer role.

 

St. Andrew based JPs Nicholas McDavid and Kerry-Ann Blake say the monthly resource bill and travel expenses incurred by many for the wide scope of services being provided can be burdensome.

 

Ms. Blake said resource challenges form the lion's share of the JPs grouses. 

 

"Just for a simple letter a JP needs to have the stationery. They need to have a printer readily available. They need to have ink. They need to have paper. So someone might come to you requiring a letter of recommendation. How do you then give them that hard copy? You'd have to get it printed. Now if that JP doesn't have that at hand, it comes at a cost, right. Likewise if you do have the printer it comes at a cost to maintain that printer, purchasing the ink and so forth. For the JPs who are active and they go out to these different jails, they go out to different visits, it costs them," she explained while speaking on TVJ's Smile Jamaica on Monday.

 

JPs serve on behalf of the Governor General and do not receive a stipend for their duties.

 

It is unlawful for a JP to accept payment for any service conducted within the mandate of the office.

 

But Mr. McDavid contended that there are several volunteer multilateral government organisations and non-profit organisations that receive stipends.

 

He added that notaries, who are the US counterparts to JPs, receive some amount of support. 

 

"There is a precedent for volunteers and voluntary organisations to provide stipends for its volunteers. So...it's not like I've come up with this brand new idea. United Nation Volunteers (UNV) - which is probably the biggest volunteer organisation in the world - they provide financial support. It's not a salary. It's not a payment. But they provide financial support for their volunteers. CUSO...They're from Canada. [They're] very active in the Caribbean, in Jamaica. When their volunteers come, they provide financial support," he outlined. 

 

Mr. McDavid, who was also a guest on TVJ's Smile Jamaica, called for other benefits such as health insurance, appraisals to evaluate the performance of JPs and technological integration.