Two Justices of the Peace sworn in

Jun 29, 2017 News

Two Justices of the Peace (JPs) were sworn in last week Wednesday by Magistrate

Magistrate Rhondel Weever (centre) with Justices of the Peace Renae McAlman (L) and Patricia Lynch

Rhondel Weever.
Ms. Renae McCalman and Ms. Patricia Lynch, in the Fort Wellington Magistrate Court, West Coast Berbice took the oath of office as Justices of Peace and Commissioners of Oaths.
Magistrate Weever, addressing the two new Justices of the Peace, highlighted the extensive powers endowed upon them, as well as stressed the need for them to carry out their duty without fear or favour. She also cautioned that from time to time there would be challenges, and that the JPs should avoid operating as if they know it all.
Ms. Lynch is currently employed as a community development worker in Region Six while Ms. McCalman is currently Assistant Overseer for Naarstigheid-Union Neighborhood Democratic Council in Region Five, as well as being the chairperson of the Hopetown Multipurpose Co-op Society.
According to the laws of Guyana, every Justice of the Peace shall be ex-officio, a coroner, in and for Guyana, or in and for that portion of Guyana for which he is a Justice of the Peace.
According to the law, (Cap. 3:05) every Justice of the Peace shall have power to preserve the peace, to suppress riots and affrays, and to disperse all disorderly and tumultuous assemblages, and for any of these purposes to call in the aid and assistance of all citizens of Guyana, who shall be severally bound to obey all lawful commands
Subject to the aforesaid, every Justice of the Peace shall have the same power as a Magistrate to issue warrants for the apprehension and commitment for safe custody of persons charged with indictable offences: to remand persons charged with offences, whether punishable on summary conviction, or on indictment; to issue search warrants in respect of indictable offences, or in respect of any other offence in which a Magistrate has power to issue a search warrant, and to administer oaths in cases allowed by law.
It should be noted also that according to the law, any Justice of the Peace is empowered to apprehend the offender where an indictable offence may have been committed in the presence of the JP, or where a breach of the peace would have been committed.
The JP is also empowered to verbally command any other person to apprehend the offender, according to the law, and that person may follow the offender if he flees, and execute the command whether in or out of the presence of the Justice of the Peace by whom the command would have been given.
The law also states that the jurisdiction of every JP shall extend throughout Guyana, or throughout that portion of Guyana for which he or she is a Justice of the Peace.
The President may appoint any fit and proper person to be a Justice of the Peace, and in like manner, for sufficient cause, remove any JP from office.

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