By Barbara Gayle, Staff ReporterSome of the island's courts could face a shutdown today as prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) voted yesterday to take industrial action to protest the Public Service Commission's (PSC) delay in implementing the recommendations of the Muirhead Committee.
A three-member panel appointed by the PSC in November last year and headed by David Muirhead, Q.C., had recommended a policy of equal opportunity for promotions within the DPP's Office, as well as an improved appraisal system. However, to date, none of the recommendations has been implemented, the prosecutors say. The Public Service Commission is responsible for considering recommendations for the promotion, transfer and movements of public officers.
The non-implementation has irked the prosecutors who, The Gleaner has been reliably informed, met yesterday and signed a petition outlining their dissatisfaction; it is to be sent today to the commission.
More than 20 of the 29 prosecutors in the DPP's Office have agreed to take industrial action islandwide starting today, The Gleaner was told. In correspondence with the PSC, the 23 prosecutors who signed the petition outlined the reasons for the industrial action that is to take the form of a sick-out. The reasons include non-appointment in clear vacancies, as well as their displeasure with the general operation of the DPP's Office.
Some of the courts likely to be affected by today's industrial action are the Home Circuit Court, King Street, downtown Kingston, the Circuit Courts in Portland, St. Mary, St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine and Clarendon, and the Regional Gun Court in Montego Bay, St. James.
A prosecutor told The Gleaner yesterday that it was the general feeling 'that we are being sidelined".
The prosecutors, who are members of the Legal Officers' Staff Association (LOSA), last took industrial action in 1991 when they staged a three-day sick-out to protest low wages and fringe benefits, issues which were subsequently addressed.
Since the start of 2003, seven prosecutors have resigned from the Office of the DPP out of frustration with the running of the semi-autonomous quasi-judicial department, sources say. Some prosecutors said they have been restive for the last two weeks and have now decided to take their grouses "a bit further".
Two weeks ago, some prosecutors expressed concern that none of the recommendations made by the Muirhead Committee three months ago has been implemented by the Public Service Commission, which is responsible for so doing.
A prosecutor said then that while they agreed that some of the recommendations would take time to be effectively implemented, they could see no reason why those who were acting in clear vacancies had not been appointed.
The prosecutor suggested that there was a nexus between the inordinate delay in implementing the recommendations and the continued exodus of personnel from the DPP's Office.
In May, the Public Services Commission announced that the Muirhead Committee had made several recommendations, which included equal opportunity for promotions, Internet access for staff and an improved appraisal system.
The DPP's Office has about 14 clear vacancies in which prosecutors have been acting. The vacancies include the post of Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, four clear vacancies for Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and six for Crown Counsel.
The Muirhead Committee was appointed in November 2002 to probe the administrative functions of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions which has been headed by Kent Pantry, Q.C., since November 1998.
include non-appointment in clear vacancies, as well as their displeasure with the general operation of the DPP's Office.
Some of the courts likely to be affected by today's industrial action are the Home Circuit Court, King Street, downtown Kingston, the Circuit Courts in Portland, St. Mary, St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine and Clarendon, and the Regional Gun Court in Montego Bay, St. James.
A prosecutor told The Gleaner yesterday that it was the general feeling 'that we are being sidelined".
The prosecutors, who are members of the Legal Officers' Staff Association (LOSA), last took industrial action in 1991 when they staged a three-day sick-out to protest low wages and fringe benefits, issues which were subsequently addressed.
PROSECUTORS UP IN ARMS
Since the start of 2003, seven prosecutors have resigned from the Office of the DPP out of frustration with the running of the semi-autonomous quasi-judicial department, sources say. Some prosecutors said they have been restive for the last two weeks and have now decided to take their grouses "a bit further".
Two weeks ago, some prosecutors expressed concern that none of the recommendations made by the Muirhead Committee three months ago has been implemented by the Public Service Commission, which is responsible for so doing.
A prosecutor said then that while they agreed that some of the recommendations would take time to be effectively implemented, they could see no reason why those who were acting in clear vacancies had not been appointed.
The prosecutor suggested that there was a nexus between the inordinate delay in implementing the recommendations and the continued exodus of personnel from the DPP's Office.
In May, the Public Services Commission announced that the Muirhead Committee had made several recommendations, which included equal opportunity for promotions, Internet access for staff and an improved appraisal system.
The DPP's Office has about 14 clear vacancies in which prosecutors have been acting. The vacancies include the post of Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, four clear vacancies for Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and six for Crown Counsel.
The Muirhead Committee was appointed in November 2002 to probe the administrative functions of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions which has been headed by Kent Pantry, Q.C., since November 1998.
