JPs call for apology after ‘witchhunt’

More than 21 Justices of the Peace who were charged by officers of the Special Investigations Squad and won their matters in court are calling on Attorney General John Jeremie for an apology. They added that after being arrested they were discredited and treated like criminals. They also claimed that the police were on a “witchhunt” when they started charging JPs with various offences several years ago. The JPs all won their matters in court. The Special Investigations Squad was set up under former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. Police officers of that unit, now known as the Anti-Corruption Bureau, were mandated to carry out investigations into alleged corrupt practices of some Justices of the Peace.

More than 21 JPs were charged with various offences. They re-applied for their licences and were granted permission to resume duties as JPs. Yesterday, president of the Justices of the Peace Association, Yusuff Mohammed said that the JPs who were charged had a right to be concerned He added that JPs work round-the-clock to grant bail and are only being paid a stipend of $300 a month. He pointed out that a JP’s work is very important and the authorities could not continue to underpay the people who carry out an essential function, even on public holidays and weekends. The association’s executive met recently with Jeremie, and a proposal to increase the stipend to $1,500 a month was discussed.