KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) is calling for the immediate reimbursement of fees paid for emergency police records, which have not been delivered due to issues affecting the regular operations at the Criminal Records Office (CRO).

Opposition Spokesman on national security Fitz Jackson, in a statement from the party today, said the Government’s failure to fix the problems at the CRO expeditiously, while collecting fees for emergency services amounts to a ‘breach of contract’ for services as many of the persons paying for the quick turn-a-round in service will not be satisfied any time soon.

“The government is collecting money from ordinary Jamaicans under false pretence, and this must be corrected immediately,” Jackson said.

The Criminal Records Office has been temporarily relocated to Orange Street in downtown Kingston, from its original location at 34 Duke Street due to air quality concerns. With the relocation, only five-day or 21-day services are being offered.

Jackson contended that the problems at the records office have also added to the overcrowding of jail cells as convicts, held in lockups require criminal records before they are transferred to correctional facilities.

“The situation has compounded already serious conditions in many lockups due to overcrowding of jail cells throughout the system,” he said.

The PNP spokesman said he never expected the situation at the agency to deteriorate any further having been given the assurance by the Government at the level of the National Security Council (NSC) that remedial action was being taken.

He said at that the last NSC meeting, he sought and was given the assurance that the Government would formally instruct all government agencies to relax deadlines for submitting police records, and similarly appeal to non-governmental agencies, including Embassies, High Commissions and other foreign agencies to do likewise, in light of the breakdown at the records office.

Pointing out that some sectors are being prioritised for service above all else, Jackson said while there is a need to ensure that emergency service is available to some companies because of the nature of their industries, there are many Jamaicans outside of these sectors who are being denied access, putting their businesses at absolute risk.

“This government continues to show contempt for ordinary Jamaicans, by its action it is willingly participating in a process which is inconveniencing ordinary citizens, locking them out of the formal systems, denying them benefits, and leaving them to resort to unsavoury ways of getting around established systems. This way of governing cannot be good for our democracy and must not be tolerated,” Jackson said.

He is calling on the government to immediately address the issues at the Records Office and put in place a workable backlog recovery and emergency system which would be equitable to all.