KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Patriots, the young professional arm of the People’s National Party (PNP), is calling on Justice Minister, Delroy Chuck to apologise for comments made in Parliament last week, noting that it only served to further demoralise and demotivate the court’s staff and expand the growing rift between a critical segment of the Civil Service and the Government.

Chuck’s comment that bogus divorce documents are being issued to members of the public from the court offices, sparked protest action today by the entire Civil Division of the Supreme Court, the Patriots said.

“While we applaud the justice minister’s zeal in his efforts to stamp out corruption in our Court system, he must exercise much more responsibility in his statements on this matter or any matter as sensitive as this one,” Patriots added.

They further argued that at a time when there are ongoing wage negotiations as well as low morale across the entire civil service, the minister should apologise for the comments made and refrain from any further comment on the matter as an investigation is already on the way.

“Further, as it is now public knowledge that competent bodies are investigating some of the very matter; the minister, being an Attorney-at-Law, should appreciate the sensitivities of a criminal investigation and should not seek to make any statements to compromise same,” the Patriots maintained.