Some members of the Island Special Constabulary Force were forced to carry out patrol duties yesterday in the downtown Kingston area as members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force took industrial action to press their demand for an increase in salaries in their year-long wage negotiations with the Government. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE ISLAND'S court system was disrupted yesterday as the sick-out by hundreds of rank- and-file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), significantly reduced the number of police personnel available to man the courts.
In Montego Bay, the Resident Magistrate's Court was forced to suspend 109 criminal cases, five civil suits, and more than 100 traffic cases. "No prisoners were transported here, only prisoners' cards so that the judges could give new hearing dates," an administrative employee told The Gleaner yesterday morning. "Only Traffic Court is in session now and rescheduling of court dates is being done. Apart from the three officers here, there are Transport Authority workers helping out."
Meanwhile, the sitting of the Western Regional Gun Court also in Montego Bay, which serves the parishes of Tre-lawny, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, was also postponed.
In St. Catherine, the sick out also affected the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court with most cases mentioned with dockets only as accused persons in custody were not brought to court.
Several court personnel did not turn up for duty. Cases were also postponed for the day at the St. Ann's Circuit Court in St. Ann's Bay.
However, court operations in Lucea, Hanover, and Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, were not affected by the protest.
