By Barbara Gayle, Staff ReporterPROSECUTORS IN the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) went on sick-out yesterday, forcing the closure of seven Circuit Courts throughout the island.
The prosecutors are protesting against the failure of the Public Services Commission (PSC) to implement the recommendations of the Muirhead Committee.
Yesterday, The Gleaner, in an exclusive, reported that prosecutors attached to the DPP's office had voted to take industrial action and that the court system could be affected as a result.
When the prosecutors failed to show at the various courts yesterday, the judges were forced to put off until today, the cases which were scheduled for trial.
The Home Circuit Court, which has four criminal courts, had to put off 13 cases which included nine murder cases. Cases were also postponed in the Circuit Courts in Portland, St. Mary, St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine, Clarendon and the Regional Gun Court in Montego Bay, St. James.
There is no indication as to how long the industrial action will last.
"The Public Services Commis-sion has been working towards implementing the recommendations," Charles Jones, chief personnel officer at the Offices of the Services Commission, told The Gleaner yesterday.
However, the prosecutors said yesterday they were forced to take action because they are "fed up with being given the run around".
Some prosecutors have expressed fear that if they sit and wait patiently nothing will be done.
"It is regrettable and I hope it will be settled soon," Frank Phipps, Q.C., said yesterday.
PHIPPS' CALL ANSWERED
Mr. Phipps, who is chairman of the Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs, wrote to the Prime Minster on November 28 last year, calling for a probe into the general administration of justice and the performance of the Office of the DPP.
The Prime Minister complied and the PSC ordered a probe into the administrative functions of the office. David Muirhead, Q.C., was appointed chairman of the committee that conducted the probe. The Muirhead Committee completed its work in February this year and has made several recommendations.
One of the recommendations is that prosecutors acting in clear vacancies should be appointed. The DPP's Office has 14 clear vacancies in which some prosecutors have been acting for more than a year.
The prosecutors say they are aware that some of the recommendations will take time to be implemented. However, they say appointments must be dealt with expeditiously.
