FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Justice Minister Delroy Chuck is suggesting that job recruiters make contact with justices of the peace (JPs) to recommend potential employees, instead of asking job seekers to do so.

He contends that there are circumstances in which, under duress, JPs provide favourable recommendations for undeserving people they know.

“What happens in Jamaica is that a lot of institutions — hotels, banks, fast food places — they need a recommendation [from potential employees]. Quite frankly, I don’t think you [JPs] should be giving recommendation for that. The institutions must find a way to get to you to find out if you can recommend that person — because when that person comes to you and asks for a recommendation, even if you know the person and the person is a scoundrel, you can’t write that he’s a scoundrel [because] you know because he will throw it away,” Chuck said.

He added: “You close your eyes and say ‘Yes the person is known to me and, to the best of my knowledge, he is of upright civility’, and you do your best. But it is not good because if the institution had called you, you would really want to tell the institution, ‘No man, that boy is a scoundrel.’ So I must say it is better to tell the institution ‘Call me or write me directly so I can send the recommendation.’ ”

He further likened a JP’s recommendation for a job to that of a HEART/NSTA Trust certification.

“The institution depends on you, the integrity you have as a JP, when you say ‘This person is honest, reliable, committed, hard-working.’ The institution says ‘This is a JP.’ And once a JP saying so, [it] is almost like a HEART certificate — and many of them don’t have a HEART certificate, they depend on your recommendation to get the job,” Chuck reasoned.

“And yes, I am not denying that the person will get the job and they will come and thank you, but if you don’t know the person it is not in your interest to put your integrity on the line,” he added.

He was speaking at the launch of the Trelawny Justice of the Peace Association held at Glistening Waters Resort and Attraction in Falmouth, Trelawny, on Saturday.

The justice minister underscored to members of the Trelawny Justice of the Peace Association, which is headed by Kenneth Grant, that JPs who fall out of line should be decommissioned.

“I can report that quite a number of JPs have been decommissioned since I have been minister. And the reason why they have been decommissioned is because many have engaged in really egregious activities,” Chuck disclosed.