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KARYL WALKER, Observer staff reporter walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, November 19, 2007
AGAINST a backdrop of air-conditioned comfort in the modern Jamaica Conference Centre on Kingston's scenic waterfront, the Coroner's inquest into the death of former Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has in 23 days run up a bill of $1 million, Observer checks show.
The money covers rental of two conference rooms, a dining area, refreshments and fees for the jurors, projectors, screens and other audio-visual equipment.
But the relative splendour of the Woolmer inquest, compared with the depressing conditions under which regular inquests are held, has drawn the ire of the human rights group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ), which sees it as "an insult to ordinary Jamaicans".
"We need to ask ourselves, why is it that we are willing to put ourselves through this expenditure for this case, when we have been unwilling to make resources available for the Coroner's Court, which deals with, on a weekly basis, dozens and dozens of cases involving ordinary Jamaicans?" JFJ chairman, Susan Goffe, fumed.
For one week in Conference Room One, taxpayers were asked to pay $44,000 a day. For the remaining 20 days, the inquest has been held inside Conference Room Two at a cost of $26,200 per day.
The Jamaica Conference Centre on Duke Street was built to host international conferences and particularly the meetings of the United Nations International Seabed Authority, which is negotiating mechanisms for exploiting the mineral riches of the world's seas and oceans, as the common heritage of mankind.
By contrast, Coroner's inquests are usually held at 79 Duke Street in a dilapidated building with dirty walls decorated with thick cobwebs. The elevator at the building has not worked for years and the courtroom is cramped and oppressively hot. Journalists and members of the public share all of one bench.
"Why is it that the Coroner's Court is seen as adequate for Jamaicans but the Conference Centre is seen as adequate for the Woolmer inquest?" Goffe, queried in an interview with the Observer.
In addition to renting the Conference Centre, two stenographers have also been provided. Normally, Resident Magistrate Patrick Murphy takes hand-written notes during inquests.
In addition to the costs mentioned, taxpayers may also have to foot the bill for accommodation and airfare for three pathologists, Dr Michael Pollenan of Ontario, Canada, Dr Nathaniel Cary of Britain and Professor Lorna Martin of Cape Town, South Africa - all of whom gave evidence at the inquest.
Jurors are paid $500 per day and so far the jury bill has climbed to $126,500 for 11 jurors over the period of 23 days.
The inquest also involves the use of audio-visual equipment accessed from the private company, AV Concepts, and microphones. The cost of rental for the audio-visual equipment was not obtained by the Observer.
Commentators have said the international attention attracted by the Woolmer case justified the treatment the inquest has been getting, arguing that Jamaica could be otherwise embarrassed before the world.
But Goffe insisted that the red carpet treatment the Woolmer inquest was given should be standard practice.
"The stenographers, microphone system, leading experts, the level of resources from the DPP's office, provisions for jurors, we must use this as a standard for the future," the JFJ chairman suggested.
Monday, November 19, 2007
AGAINST a backdrop of air-conditioned comfort in the modern Jamaica Conference Centre on Kingston's scenic waterfront, the Coroner's inquest into the death of former Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has in 23 days run up a bill of $1 million, Observer checks show.
The money covers rental of two conference rooms, a dining area, refreshments and fees for the jurors, projectors, screens and other audio-visual equipment.
But the relative splendour of the Woolmer inquest, compared with the depressing conditions under which regular inquests are held, has drawn the ire of the human rights group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ), which sees it as "an insult to ordinary Jamaicans".
"We need to ask ourselves, why is it that we are willing to put ourselves through this expenditure for this case, when we have been unwilling to make resources available for the Coroner's Court, which deals with, on a weekly basis, dozens and dozens of cases involving ordinary Jamaicans?" JFJ chairman, Susan Goffe, fumed.
For one week in Conference Room One, taxpayers were asked to pay $44,000 a day. For the remaining 20 days, the inquest has been held inside Conference Room Two at a cost of $26,200 per day.
The Jamaica Conference Centre on Duke Street was built to host international conferences and particularly the meetings of the United Nations International Seabed Authority, which is negotiating mechanisms for exploiting the mineral riches of the world's seas and oceans, as the common heritage of mankind.
By contrast, Coroner's inquests are usually held at 79 Duke Street in a dilapidated building with dirty walls decorated with thick cobwebs. The elevator at the building has not worked for years and the courtroom is cramped and oppressively hot. Journalists and members of the public share all of one bench.
"Why is it that the Coroner's Court is seen as adequate for Jamaicans but the Conference Centre is seen as adequate for the Woolmer inquest?" Goffe, queried in an interview with the Observer.
In addition to renting the Conference Centre, two stenographers have also been provided. Normally, Resident Magistrate Patrick Murphy takes hand-written notes during inquests.
In addition to the costs mentioned, taxpayers may also have to foot the bill for accommodation and airfare for three pathologists, Dr Michael Pollenan of Ontario, Canada, Dr Nathaniel Cary of Britain and Professor Lorna Martin of Cape Town, South Africa - all of whom gave evidence at the inquest.
Jurors are paid $500 per day and so far the jury bill has climbed to $126,500 for 11 jurors over the period of 23 days.
The inquest also involves the use of audio-visual equipment accessed from the private company, AV Concepts, and microphones. The cost of rental for the audio-visual equipment was not obtained by the Observer.
Commentators have said the international attention attracted by the Woolmer case justified the treatment the inquest has been getting, arguing that Jamaica could be otherwise embarrassed before the world.
But Goffe insisted that the red carpet treatment the Woolmer inquest was given should be standard practice.
"The stenographers, microphone system, leading experts, the level of resources from the DPP's office, provisions for jurors, we must use this as a standard for the future," the JFJ chairman suggested.
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