For 12 years, Easton O'Brien Dorman sat with his justice of the peace (JP) seal without being able to perform the functions of the office because he was not sworn in.

However, finally in 1990, he took the oath of office and since then the JP has been a 'man for all seasons' in Braeton, St Catherine.

With almost 20 years as a JP, Dorman has signed hundreds of documents while helping thousands of people in what he describes as a labour of love.

"This is a service that I'm prepared to do. I was asked to serve the community and I decided that I would do it and I'm doing it under the commitment that I have made," Dorman told The Gleaner.

He said that over the years he has had to turn down some persons who approached him to sign documents, because that would breach the trust reposed in him.

"Some come to offer you a little bribe to sign documents for people who you never see before, so I had to tell them, if you friend is the one who knows me, don't come.

"I don't want the money and them can't pay me to do anything that I do. I get help from the business community who print my letter-head free, so I come and I write for you for free," added Dorman.

Odd visits

Over the past three years, the 72-year-old has cut down the number of hours during which he offers his service as a JP because he has a bedridden wife for whom he cares.

However, that has not stopped the people of Braeton and adjoining communities from turning up at odd hours.

"Them come middle night a bawl you down, call you down, and while I accept that there is the odd time that there is an emergency, I had to set some rules."

Now he opens his office, which was built from his pocket, at 10 in the mornings and gives persons appointments to return.

Dress code

However, there are some basic rules they will have to follow when they come back, and these include a dress code.

"I sat in my little office one day and a man and a woman come in and, when me look, her breast a drop out of her blouse and her underwear fully on show. She almost naked. So me decide say nobody nah come back here like that so I set up a dress code."

The dress code, in the form of a poem, is placed prominently inside the office and includes the line: "You might be here to sign your name but the dress you are wearing is an awful shame."

He said while the women were initially upset, they conformed, but pointed to the men who continued to turn up at his office in various states of undress.

That was soon rectified by the frail-looking Dorman, who was prepared to stand up to men much younger and stronger.

With the rules firmly in place, it is a pleasure for Dorman to serve the people he has called friends and neighbours for years.

"Many people know me and I try and serve as many as I can, and will continue doing so for as long as I can because I get pleasure in serving. Me no ready fi put up yet."