Hanover, Westmoreland JPs to get ZOSO training

WESTERN BUREAU:

Plans are afoot for justices of the peace (JPs) in Hanover and Westmoreland to be trained so that they will be in a state of readiness to participate in zones of special operations (ZOSO), the Government's latest initiative to battle crime.

The announcement, which came days after Westmoreland's custos, Reverend Hartley Perrin, expressed public concern about the fact that JPs in Westmoreland were not in a state of readiness to participate in the ZOSO, should the need arise.

In outlining the plan to train the Hanover and Westmoreland JPs, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck told The Gleaner in an interview on Wednesday that he planned to carry out training exercises within the next two weeks.

"There are parishes where the training of the JPs has not taken place as yet, especially in Westmoreland and Hanover. I am hoping that within the next two weeks, I can get to do Hanover and Westmoreland," Chuck told The Gleaner.

"So, even if a ZOSO was called in Westmoreland or Hanover over the next few weeks, what I have told all the custodes is that within 48 hours of a zone being called, I will be available to do a final briefing to all the JPs and to introduce them to the ground commanders," added Chuck.

Prior to his exclusive interview with The Gleaner, Chuck conducted a ZOSO training seminar with JPs from St James and Trelawny at the Royalton White Sands Resort in Trelawny.

JPs in St James have been active on the ground in Mt Salem, where the nation's first ZOSO was launched two weeks ago. St James' acting custos, Claudette Bryan, says things have been going smoothly in terms of the JPs playing their expected roles.

Wednesday's meeting with the JPs in St James and Trelawny was designed to educate them on their roles and responsibilities with regard to the protecting of citizens' rights in the ZOSO.