Work to start 'shortly' on new San F'do court

Construction is set to start shortly on the new San Fernando magistrates' court, said Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi.

"All of the preliminary aspects have been done. The architectural drawings are finished, the engineering and other engineering services are nearly completed, and construction will begin shortly," he told Newsday.

The new building is to be built at the corner of Sutton Street and Irving Park. That site once housed the Trinidad Islandwide Cane Farmers’ Association.

Al-Rawi, who is also the MP for San Fernando West, said the land had been vested and the Cabinet approved all the structures.

In September 2017, the Judiciary issued a statement on the "temporary relocation" of the court from the old building at Harris Street to the Supreme Court building, across the road at Harris Promenade.

The relocation was to allow repairs to the roof of the old court building "to provide a safe environment for all of its customers and staff."

Since then, the magistrates' courts have been operating on a shift system with the High Court.

An assessment of the building after the 2018 6.9 magnitude earthquake on August 21 showed significant damage.

Last year, Al-Rawi announced that the old building would be demolished to make way for the High Court to be expanded.

South-based attorney Subhas Panday said apart from a leaking roof, the old building had recurring electrical problems.

"But that building is a strong building, although there had always been electrical problems. It had no cracks," said Panday. He is a member of the Assembly of Southern Lawyers.

He said the Judiciary spent a lot of money on a building which has not been completed.

Panday questioned: "Why go to Sutton Street (when) next to Madinah Building, on the corner of Lewis and Court Streets, there is an incomplete building?"

Owing to the covid19 pandemic, court hearings nationwide are being held virtually. Using technology, he said, saves a lot of time as one could read in the office until the case is called.

Calls to Michael Rooplal, the president of the assembly, went unanswered.