I WRITE on a matter that I feel the public has a right to know about. Very many persons would seek the services of Commissioners of Oaths (CoA) and Justices of the Peace(JP). Many of these appointees serve with distinction. The same cannot be said for others. A lot of illegalities occur on a daily basis. Quite a few attorneys-at-law are aware of the illegalities but cannot care less. Let me make reference to a few situations;

1. Mr. Ali JP, CoA died nearly four years ago but his shingle is still hanging on the office of a prominent criminal Lawyer in King Street, Lacytown. Mr. Ali’s JP stamp is still being used by someone.
2.  Mr. Abushameer Khan was appointed a Justice of the Peace and Commissioner of Oaths with Jurisdiction for Region 3, yet everyday lawyers in Georgetown allows him to attach his signature and seal to legal documents. This same Mr. Khan sits in offices in Georgetown and recommends applications for passports. The Passport Office even allows Mr. Abushameer Khan as a Justice of the Peace to identify passport applicants although he lacks jurisdiction.
3. When persons are deported from certain CARICOM countries, they obtain a birth certificate of someone who never applied for a passport and then look for a Commissioner of Oaths who lives in Kingston and who is always ready to identify passport applicants who are not in possession of ID cards. The fee for such a task is $15,000.
4. One Justice of the Peace who represented himself as a Marriage Officer and was placed before the courts now labels himself as a legal clerk and marriage consultant. His only qualifications are some photographs with past presidents of Guyana.
I believe that the association of Justices of the Peace must hold seminars for these persons, so that the public will be better served.
I used to take my father to a JP to have his NIS life certificate signed. He never took any money, but insisted that he saw my father every time. Before my father died he asked me to take a gift of a watch to that JP.
I know everything is a hustle now, but be honest and let your conscience be your guide.