Role of Custos
Custodes
Custos rotulorum (the plural of which is Custodes rotulorum) is the Latin phrase for "keeper of the rolls". It is a civic post which is recognised in England where it originated and in Jamaica. The Office of the Custos traces back to fourteenth century England when in 1391 King Richard II issued the Grand Commission appointing Custodes and Justices of the Peace to assist in maintaining law and order in English Counties. In Jamaica, the first mention of the office appears in the Legislative Council Minutes of the 28th day of July, 1668 in an Ordinance dealing with the Orderly Proceedings of the Courts within the island. The Custos is appointed by the Governor-General acting on the advice of the Prime Minister and shall be a resident of the parish to which he/she is appointed, save in the case of the Corporate Area. Functions and Duties The functions and duties of the Custos are to:
In addition to the above, Custodes in recent times have served as the:
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