- Norman GrindleyValrie Francis King broke down in tears as she and hundreds of prison warders, praised God for helping them make it through 27 months of interdiction.
Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter
HUNDREDS of prison warders, some with children, crammed into the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre's sports club in Spanish Town yesterday to hear details of the "good news" that will end their 27-month interdiction.
Tears flowed and voices rang out in joyous thanksgiving to God that their long ordeal was nearly over, although it was still not certain when they will go back to work, .
The best answer that they could get about returning to work and proper salaries, was "soon" but that did not affect friendly hugs amidst shouts of greeting, broad smiles and twinkling eyes.
They were also told that they were to get 85 per cent of their salary and housing allowances that had been withheld during their interdiction.
"This meeting I start with a big big smile because much of the burden is off the shoulders. The battle is 90 per cent over. We make no apologies to anybody if we feel good this morning. I was confident that every day past January 2000 was one day closer to when we were going back because I believe in justice and justice takes a long time but it will come," Lambert Brown belted out, comparing the experience of the warders to that of the biblical Daniel who met the lion in its den and came out relatively unscathed.
Mr. Brown is the vice-president of the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU), one of two unions representing them. The other union is the Jamaica Union of Public Officers and Public Employees.
"Can you give up? Did you ever believe you were going to lose?" Mr. Brown shouted.
"NO!" came the resounding answer from prison warders, who sang, waved and clapped their hands as a stereo system and fellow colleagues belted out traditional protest songs such as We shall overcome and gospel renditions such as I just can't give up now.
"Interdiction made me cry unto the Lord and the Lord heard my prayer and delivered me," cried a female warder while a male colleague asked warders to unite.
"Don't bother believe that the Government is satisfied with this thing. Traps will be set. Brethren, I am asking you to do your work the best you know how. You mustn't go out there go bus' up nobody but if you haffi defend you self then defend it," he said.
Some 613 are to return to work. They were among 800 warders, who staged a 'sick out' to protest against the Government's decision to re-appoint then Commissioner of Corrections, Lt. John Prescod, as the head of the Correctional Department in 2000. They had been interdicted on quarter pay since then, for an alleged illegal industrial action. They were reported to the Public Service Commission for disciplinary action, but the hearings required under the Constitution have yet to resolve any of the charges. The Ministry of National Security decided to seek a settlement with the union last November.
An agreement was brokered between the trade unions and National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, who signed it on Friday.
He said that the warders will be reinstated as soon as the process is completed by the Public Service Commission (PSC), prompting hopes that the PSC would finish its duties within the course of the week.
"Mi feel pleased fi see the Minister try him best," said warder Oswald Britton.
But he and others were dismayed at Government's statement that $450 million in payment will be spread over two fiscal years -- 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 -- instead of immediately.
"On standby"
Mr. Brown told them to be "on standby" for the call to work and reiterated that he knew their cause was "just."
He was upset though that the warders were not already back at work, cautioning the Government that while it was "iffing" and "butting", prisoners had escaped from maximum security prisons and had recently used dynamite to blow a hole on the inside perimeter wall at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre (General Penitentiary).
Mr. Brown stated that the union will continue the fight for an additional 100 warders on a B list, who the Government plans to send on retirement in the public interest. According to National Security Minister, Peter Phillips, these are warders whose performance has been questionable.
Mr. Brown had reservations about the May 31, deadline for warders to state whether or not they accepted the agreement, as several of them lived in areas that were inaccessible and they were unlikely to hear the news.
He urged the warders to behave professionally when they get back to work and to use their money wisely.
"We stood up for a cause in 2000 and I make no apology," he said, shouting into the crowd, asking those on the B list not to resign.
