.GIF)
K.D. KnightMINISTER OF National Security and Justice K.D. Knight has called on law abiding Jamaicans to help in the fight against corruption to ensure that criminals do not overrun the country.
Addressing a community meeting at the Port Maria Court house last week, Mr. Knight said it was the responsibility of all patriotic Jamaicans to combine their efforts "to rid the country of the scourge of corruption as its perpetrators were bent on destroying the society".
He noted that too many Jamaicans were prepared to accept corruption as a way of life, and that the government was leading the way to eradicate this malady by ensuring that transparency and integrity governed the manner in which its activities were conducted.
The Minister pointed out that activities relating to drugs were contributing to corruption in a very serious way, and that legislation had been introduced to punish drug dealers harshly.
Mr. Knight noted that their actions were not only damaging the reputation of the country, but were affecting the lives of many young people.
On the delivery of justice in the country, Mr. Knight said government was introducing initiatives aimed at addressing the imbalances existing in the justice system.
He explained that the initiatives were intended to make the justice system more caring and empathetic to the circumstances of ordinary Jamaicans, and that this was in keeping with the government's philosophy of making the justice system accessible to all.
Mr. Knight said the measures would include the revision of the Legal Aid Act to allow for more effective assistance to those using the service in criminal and civil matters; the introduction of a mediation mechanism to settle disputes out of Court; the implementation of the Victim Support Programme; and expanding the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace in Court trials.