Court chaos stalls justice in South

STACY MOORE

"Confusion and chaos!"

This was how attorneys, security officers, police and members of the public described to Newsday yesterday, the temporary relocation of the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court to the Supreme Court Building in San Fernando.

In September, the courthouse was relocated temporarily to the adjacent High Court to facilitate repair work to the building. There was a “notice” which informed members of the public that the relocation would be temporary – from September 11 to October 8, 2017.

To date, there has been an extension of time on the completion of work to the building. The Judiciary in a release stated the relocation had become necessary in order to conduct urgent repairs to the roof of the building known as the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court (Old Court) building. “The Judiciary seeks the understanding of the public in its efforts to provide a safe environment for all of its customers and staff, and, regrets any inconvenience caused,” the notice stated on the judiciary’s website.

Attorneys told Newsday that for the past three months, the arrangements have caused chaos and confusion. Yesterday, they said not only are they affected by the constant changes but clients, police and security personnel are also confused. Attorney Ainsley Lucky, in describing the situation as chaotic, said, “No one seems to know what they are doing. Firstly, we are directed to the Madinah building and then we are directed to the Supreme Court. Then, there is the issue of video conferencing. There are two venues for video conferencing, the first one in the Madinah building and the other in the Supreme Court.”

He said that for the past months, he and his clients have had to shuffle from one venue then back to the other. “Unless this situation is remedied, it is going to get worst,” Lucky said. Another attorney, Annalee Girwar, said that it was a nightmare. “The criminal justice system just keeps descending further into darkness more so in San Fernando, as a result of the new shift system.”

Girwar said it has reached the point where people just want to go back to the heath hazard that is the “un air-conditioned” old San Fernando Magistrate building. In some cases, accused persons were asked the question, where they would like their matters to be heard. “In the magistrate’s court or the High Court? Magistrate Brahmanand Dubay asked an accused two weeks ago. It is the right of every person charged with an offence to elect where he would like to have his case adjudicated upon. The accused replied, “But I done here already,” much to the laughter of attorneys, prosecutor and magistrate himself.