By Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter 
The Home Circuit Court, downtown Kingston, where jurors complained bitterly yesterday about the intense heat in one of the courtrooms. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer
SCORES OF jurors who turned up at the Home Circuit Court yesterday to be empanelled for a murder case, expressed disgust that although the air-conditioning unit has not been working since last week, no fans were provided to reduce the unbearable heat in the courtroom.
As the 80 jurors huddled at the back of the courtroom sweating profusely, they were informed at 10:15 a.m. that the prisoner truck had broken down at Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew. The prisoners did not arrive until midday.
Justice Hazel Harris apologised to the jurors for the discomfort they were encountering. She told them that fans were being requested to alleviate their discomfort. The judge also apologised for the late start of the murder case of four accused, in which the jurors were summoned to serve. She told them that the prisoners were in custody but the truck had broken down and other arrangements were being made to bring them to court.
Despite the judge's assurance, when the case adjourned at 4 p.m. yesterday, no fans were provided for the jurors.
But many of the jurors were not satisfied with the judge's apology and during the luncheon adjournment, some of them expressed dissatisfaction with the conditions under which they were summoned to serve.
"I would expect that if the air-conditioning unit is not working, at least some fans would have been placed in the courtroom. Look at the millions of dollars collected in fines in the courts. You really mean to say that they cannot use the money to purchase even six fans for the courthouse?" asked a juror.
Some of them, who were serving for the first time, said they did not expect to be treated in such a shoddy manner.
A court official said yesterday that the air-conditioning unit was going to take some time to be repaired. The unit broke down last week Tuesday and Ministry officials were notified. The court official said in previous times they could call a repairman to service the unit when it was not working. She said that since this year, the Ministry had given strict warning that it was officially responsible for the repairs and should be notified when any equipment was in need of servicing.
She said Ministry officials sent a contractor to the courthouse and cost for the repair was submitted to the Ministry. She explained that the Ministry would first have to identify the funds to pay the contractor before repairs could be effected.
Police manning the cells at the Supreme Court complained last week that whenever there is a power cut, they have to light candles to process the prisoners. They are calling on the authorities to provide a standby generator for the courthouse.
