JFJ urges gov't to appoint permanent DPP

By Kimone Witter    

 

The lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice, says the government should move swiftly to have a permanent Director of Public Prosecutions appointed, even as it intends to appeal the Constitutional Court's ruling on the second extension of Paula Llewellyn's tenure.

 

Executive Director Mickel Jackson says, while JFJ believes the judgment to be clear, it supports the need for absolute clarity.

 

There has been no indication from the government that an appeal has been filed. 

 

But Ms. Jackson says the JFJ is concerned about the status of Ms. Llewellyn in the interim. 

 

"We're not clear what the status of the former DPP is, and it seems to us that there is a circumvention of the court's ruling in having the former DPP remain somewhere while the acting [DPP] carry out the functions, pending an appeal. And that is very problematic for us and JFJ believes that the Public Service Commission ought to move with haste in having a permanent replacement so appointed," she insisted. 

 

Ms. Jackson said Justice Minister Delroy Chuck should also use today's sitting of the House of Representatives to address the government's initial statements following the Full Court's ruling. 

 

"I hope he will have the floor in that regard, and he will update the public and clarify that letter that also led to confusion and continues to confuse us as to the status of the office and a permanent replacement," said the JFJ executive director, who was speaking Tuesday on the Morning Agenda, on Power 106.

 

Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson was on Monday appointed acting DPP for the next six months.