Court bars Transport Ministry from convening dismissal hearing for chief motor vehicle inspector

The Supreme Court has granted an order barring the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works from conducting a hearing with a view to dismissing chief inspector of the motor vehicle licensing authority in St Thomas, Lynden Simpson.

The injunction, which was granted Tuesday, is to remain in force until April 4 next year.

Simpson was arrested and charged in 2012 with a breach of the Corruption Prevention Act. 

It was alleged that he accepted money to perform a certain duty which was in breach of the law.

The charge was dismissed in 2015.

On being informed that the permanent secretary had set up a committee to conduct a hearing, Simpson took the matter to the Supreme Court. 

Attorneys-at-law Hugh Wildman and Sasha Waugh Newby, who are representing Simpson, argued today that the charge against their client was dismissed and any hearing into the allegations would be a breach of the Public Service Regulations.

Lawyers representing the respondents, who are the permanent secretary and the members of the committee, opposed the application for a stay.

Acting Supreme Court Judge Lisa Palmer Hamilton granted the stay.

The substantive issue in the case could not be heard today and a date will be set for the hearing next year.

Simpson and the Jamaica Civil Service Association are the applicants in the case.

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