Litigants seek shelter from the sun under an almond tree outside the Santa Cruz courthouse while they awaited for the start of court due to the insufficient police personnel to open court on time.
April 7, 2025
Security concern causes delay at St Elizabeth Parish Court
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Attorneys and litigants were on Monday forced to seek shelter under an almond tree outside the Santa Cruz courthouse due to the absence of sufficient police personnel to man the court.
The security concern had reportedly also resulted in the presiding judge being concerned for her safety.
A source said for close to an hour presiding judge Dionne Lawrence-Pivotte refused to come out of her chambers “because of the security concern”.
“There were no police to open [the] St Elizabeth Family Court. The litigants are becoming restive and frustrated. Only two police officers were stationed immediately downstairs,” the source said.
The court was subsequently opened at 10:50 am.
— Kasey Williams
