The 32 newly commissioned justices of the peace (JPs) for the parish of St James have been called upon to be standard-bearers in their communities.

"I call upon you, justices of the peace, to do everything in your power to stem the tide of corruption and moral decay. If you have joined the service to further corrupt or to aid in corrupt practices, you do not belong here," said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Robert Rainford.

He was addressing the installation ceremony for the new JPs held recently at the Wexford Court Hotel in Montego Bay.

The permanent secretary urged the justices to hold fast to the principles of integrity and honesty in carrying out their work, and reminded them that they should not sign documents for people they did not know.

"That is why we try to have so many justices of the peace - so that the chances of JPs knowing their community members are increased. This might seem simple, but look at the damage that can be caused by identity theft and forgery of documents such as passports and drivers' licences, Rainford said.

Custos Rotulorum for the parish, Ewen Corrodus, commended the newly commissioned JPs and urged them to take their roles seriously.

"This is a special moment for you 'Jamaica 50' justices as it is a graduation exercise and an induction into a new career that will make your lives more fulfilling and rewarding while at the same time more challenging," Corrodus said.

He pointed out that the support and involvement of all citizens was needed for justices of the peace to effectively fulfill the purpose for which they were being commissioned.