Deputy Public Defender Noel Irving has revealed that, while a settlement has been agreed for an ex-woman constable who currently lives at the Marie Atkins Shelter in downtown Kingston, no funds will be disbursed until the issue of her residence is settled.

Case officer Howard Bennett told The Gleaner that the Office of the Public Defender was waiting to see the final disposition of the policewoman's case, but the matter was in the hands of the human resource department of the Jamaica Consta-bulary Force.

"We investigated her case and we brought it to the point where it was referred to the police human resource department," Bennett said. "They subsequently advised us that the process of settlement was complete, with the exception that the matter of her residence must be settled. Where she is now is not satisfactory. We will continue to oversee the case until it is finally settled."

Delayed dismissal

Lorna, as the policewoman wishes to be called, lost her job in December 2004, when she experienced "personal conflict with a supervisor".

She continued to do her duties until one day she returned to the Half-Way Tree Police Station from guarding a prisoner at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital to find that there were no duties listed for her.

Since that day, Lorna wrote letters to the Ministry of National Security and to the Office of the Public Defender regarding her reinstatement. In 2005, she was finally told by then Commissioner of Police Francis Forbes to return to work, but by then she was blind and sick. It is not clear what caused her loss of sight.

In January 2007, having lost all of her possessions and running out of funds, she was placed in the Marie Atkins Shelter for the homeless.

Last week, Lena Latibeaudiere, inspector at the Kingston Poor Relief Department, said several efforts had been made to place Lorna in a home, but she was apparently fearful of being exploited.

Currently, the department, she said, is in dialogue with the District Constable Association with regards to her care. The Gleaner was unable to get additional information from the human resources section of the JCF on its efforts to find housing for the policewoman.