THE MINISTRY of Justice is recruiting mediators for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to implement recommendations of the Muirhead Committee which had reviewed the administration of the office.
In an advertisement in The Sunday Gleaner, the ministry requested applications for mediation services for the Office of the DPP, "to work with the director and staff."
SICK-OUT BY LAWYERS
The move comes weeks after 23 of the 29 prosecutors at the office went on a sick-out, citing further breakdown in relations between them and Kent Pantry, Q.C., the DPP. Their action was further fuelled by the Public Service Commission's tardiness in implementing the recommendation.
The prosecutors returned to work following a joint meeting between the Public Service Commission and the Office of the DPP at which there was unanimous agreement that a regime of open communication with a broadly consultative framework would be initiated; that there would be full and consistent exercise of professional respect on both sides, staff and DPP; and the early appointment of an independent mediator to facilitate team-building process would be finalised.
The Ministry of Justice wants the mediation service providers to supply five trained mediators with at least five years' experience to work with the office for six months.
The five mediators are expected to smooth tensions and pave the way towards open dialogue between the sides, help the parties define the issues of concern, and work with them to implement systems and processes to rebuild trust and respect, and foster a better working atmosphere and team spirit. However, their work would not impinge on the constitutional authority vested in the DPP.
