The Lay Magistrates’ Association of Jamaica, Manchester Chapter convened its Annual General Meeting at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville recently. The Association which is in its 18th year boasts a rich history of performance and help to the Justice Ministry.
The meeting commenced at 2.00 p.m. with the singing of the National Anthem followed by prayer by the Association’s Chaplin, Reverend Dr. Owen Gordon, Justice of the Peace.
The President, Mrs. Jean Anderson extended the usual warm welcome, made the introductions and congratulated those who had received special awards or recognition and the newcomers. Greetings then came from honorary members followed by a solo rendered by Reverend Joan Smith in tribute to the late Reverend Robert Longmore, Justice of the Peace who was buried that same day. Other standard activities were interspersed by another rendition, “I asked the Lord to comfort me,” done by Father V.W.Scott, J.P.
The guest speaker was then introduced. He delivered a very informative address which in essence, spoke to the constitutional changes which are currently being tabled by the justice Ministry and how they will affect Lay Magistrates and their duties. He said that a more intense training would be offered by the ministry to all involved, and particularly, the new Lay magistrates. This , he said, would benefit both the Association and the Ministry.
The meeting ended at 6.00 p.m. with a presentation being made to the Guest Speaker, the vote of thanks and the Doxology.
In attendance were its Executive Committee members, Zone Co-ordinators, other Co-opted members; Special Guest, Mr. Robert Rainford, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice (Guest Speaker), Honourable Oswald Burcheson, Resident Magistrate for Mandeville; Dr. The Honourable Gilbert Allen, Justice of the Peace, Custos Rotulorum of Manchester (Honorary President), Councillor Brenda Ramsay, Mayor of Mandeville, Mr. Kingsley Robinson, Assistant Commissioner of Police for Area 3 and Mr. Calvin Lyn, National President and also full complement of its remaining 49 older justices and 45 new recruits to be commissioned soon.
