‘Unacceptable risks’

THE Jamaican Bar Association has come out in support of staff members at the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston who are crying out for help and say they fear for their safety, and are peeved about the lack of a canteen at the facility.

In a media release on Tuesday over the signature of its President Tenneshia T Watkins, the Bar Association said it noted with deep concern the reports carried in the Jamaica Observer on Monday which highlighted unsafe conditions and inadequate facilities affecting staff at the court.

“We commend the courage of the employees who have spoken out, and we stand in solidarity with them. The safety and well-being of court staff, attorneys-at-law, and all users of the court are essential to the proper functioning of our justice system.

“Daily exposure to harassment and violence, coupled with the absence of basic amenities, undermines morale and productivity and erodes public confidence in the administration of justice,” the Bar Association said.

It noted that the presence of individuals loitering around the court compound has been a long-standing concern, “and one on which we have sought intervention repeatedly in the past. Despite these efforts, the situation persists, and staff, attorneys, and members of the public continue to face unacceptable risks.”

The association added that it is calling on Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck, Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake, and the Mayor of Kingston, chairman of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation Andrew Swaby, to take urgent steps to secure the court compound and to restore adequate facilities for staff and users.

“Immediate measures should include the removal of unauthorised persons from the area, enhanced security presence, and controlled access to the courtyard,” said the Bar Association.

“We urge the reinstatement of a canteen at an appropriate location or the consideration of alternative arrangements such as partnering with a catering service to provide daily meal deliveries for staff. This would ensure that employees have reliable access to food without leaving the compound, thereby improving both safety and morale,” the association added as it declared its commitment to working with its members and all stakeholders to strengthen the justice system.

“We urge swift action to ensure that those who serve and use the courts can do so in a safe and dignified environment,” the association group added.

Last week staff at the Supreme Court told the Observer that they have had no working canteen for around five years, after the canteen was shut down, reportedly because it posed a fire hazard, as it was located above a very important room on the court building on King Street.

One employee said added to the canteen issue, members of staff have to navigate the unsafe court surroundings, which is littered daily with people of unsound mind, and only feel relieved once they have entered the court building.

“The other day a man punched down a member of staff out at the front. Another member of staff was spat on, one morning. There was one occasion where a man pulled a machete to attack one of the cleaners outside there. We have been speaking and it has been falling on deaf ears, so we are asking the minister of justice and the commissioner of police to intervene,” said the employee, who requested anonymity for fear of sanctioning.

Another employee said the issues that they have are kept hush-hush, causing the problems to go unsolved. The employee explained that people are tired of complaining to their superiors without any changes taking place, and therefore had to draw it to the attention of the media.

“The courtyard is too loose [unsecured] around the front because no judge or lawyer has to park out there. There is no security for staff until they reach the Supreme Court building. [And then] the security in the building is so strict — mind sharp staff might not even get let in. Yet still, everybody can walk in through the gate and come on the compound and do anything to the staff. Homeless people come in and catch water and vendors come in to sell on the compound.“

The employee added: “There is no security for the staff who might want to sit down in the courtyard on a daily basis. An auxiliary staff member came to work one morning and got held up by a man at the gate. These things need to be highlighted. Staff are complaining about their security and the situation with the street people. I don’t know if they are waiting for someone to lose their life before there is an intervention. At the moment, anybody can come in.”