Phony justices of the peace lie in wait for victims around the GPO

Dear Editor,
It has been brought to the attention of members of the Justices of Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Association that there are persons out there who hang around the GPO and in the vicinity of lawyers’ chambers pretending to be justices of peace, and approach people offering the services of a justice of peace. These fakes will collect money from the unsuspecting victims and disappear or provide a document that is not a proper affidavit; in any case the victim is politely robbed.

Also there are some tricksters who pretend to be connected to the Ministry of Housing and will take money from persons with the promise of getting  house lots for them; when the tricksters collect the money they do a disappearing act.

Members of the above association would like to advise people that when looking for a justice of the peace or commissioner of oaths they should make sure he or she operates from a recognized office and that copies of his or her instruments of authority are displayed so that they can be clearly seen.

As for house lots, only the Minister or his authorized officers at the Housing Ministry can issue house lots by way of a set and proper process; there is no way an outside person can provide a house lot. Persons should be on their guard at all times.

Yours faithfully,
WP George
PRO
Guyana Justices of the Peace
Association