Deputy Magistrate medically examined — report for JLSC

Deputy Chief Magistrate Deborah Thomas-Felix spent about an hour yesterday being examined by two doctors of the Medical Board of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC). Their examination was to determine whether or not Thomas-Felix is medically fit for her duty.

About 9 am yesterday, Thomas-Felix  arrived at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and was ushered to Neurosurgical/ Orthopaedics departments,  where she was examined by the doctors. The two doctors are expected to complete an early  report and submit it to the JLSC. Thomas-Felix is protesting her transfer by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls from Port-of-Spain to San Fernando on medical grounds. Last month she sought leave for judicial review over her new assignment but was turned down by Justice Mark Mohammed. She has since filed an appeal. In the meantime,  the  JLSC had requested that Thomas-Felix be examined by its medical board to determine the extent of her back injuries. She claimed and produced medical reports indicating that her back injury was being aggravated by having to travel the long distance from north to south.

Among her medical documents produced was a MRI Scan done by Dr Par-manand Maharaj of her lumbar sacral spine, and another report by Dr Godfrey Araujo, an orthopaedic surgeon. In Port-of-Spain, she was listed to hear the high profile case of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday on charges of failing to disclose money under the Integrity in Public Life Act. When her appeal came up on July 28, 2003 before Justice Lionel Jones, Justice Margot Warner and Justice Stanley John, her attorneys Douglas Mendes and Stuart Young, instructed by Nicha Cardinez, indicated to the Court that the move by the JLSC has in effect commenced a process which may or may not result in Thomas-Felix’s retirement on medical grounds. Her attorneys, who had  been trying to get the Court to hear her  appeal before yesterday’s appointment with the Medical Board, said that Thomas-Felix would be approaching the JLSC with one hand tied behind her back since her challenge to her San Fernando assignment would be unresolved.