Barbara Gayle and Nagra Plunkett, Staff Reporters
NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Dr. Peter Phillips said yesterday that despite the withdrawal of service by more than 2,000 members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), plans were in place to ensure that the security of the country was not jeopardised.
"We (Government) are doing our best to resolve the impasse," Dr. Phillips told The Gleaner. "Contingency measures are, however, in place to protect the security of the nation."
The protest action by the federated ranks of the police force over their failed salary talks with Government would, however, affect proceedings in criminal courts islandwide.
Two of the courts severely affected were the Home Circuit Court and the Gun Court, resulting in the postponent of several cases. Also, prisoners were not brought to court because no police were available to drive the trucks or guard the courts. The few policemen who were on the Supreme Court building were all dressed in plain clothes.
HOPE FOR RESOLUTION
When the case of Janet Douglas, who is charged with the murder of her lover's wife was mentioned, Paula Llewellyn, Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, told Senior Puisne Judge Justice Basil Reid and the jury that she had been informed that there was no guarantee that policemen would be available to man the court.
Justice Reid, in adjourning the court, directed the jurors to return today. The judge said he hoped that the issue would be resolved by then. After all the courts were adjourned, a prosecutor expressed disappointment that the cases had to be postponed.
WEST NORMAL
In western Jamaica, the situation, however, remained calm.
"I am just not ready to take my action yet. I think the Prime Minister says that he is going to intervene, so let's see what happens," a female constable attached to the St. James Police Division said.
Her male colleague was far less patient, promising that he would be joining the protest action being staged islandwide.
"I am on strike but not in the form of a sick-out," he said. "There are other ways of doing things. The Government is only willing to improve death benefits, meaning that they expect all of us to die and that is the only time we will get respect."
In Ocho Rios, the sick-out by the police coincided with the visit of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship, Rhapsody of the Seas.
(Gleaner Writer Devon Evans contributed to this story)
