Chaos at new courthouse wing

CHAOS reigned at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Courts yesterday as the new wing was formally opened to the public, but very few people, including court staff, knew what was happening.

Added to that, three courts which have been based at NIPDEC House for years, were shifted to St Vincent Street from yesterday.  Scores of people who had cases at NIPDEC House, turned up there only to see a sign saying to proceed to St Vincent Street. There was a mad rush to reach St Vincent Street. On top of that, the public entrance to the St Vincent Street courthouse was shifted to the new wing.  The security guards at the entrance used a scanner on everyone. But that was not the problem. With about 400 people having to pass through the entrance, a very small door was opened for the litigants, attorneys, police officers, and other persons.

The crowd waiting to get into the building was so thick that one woman wanted to know if something was on sale, or whether there was an auction taking place. After getting past the scanner and the MTS guards, visitors were lost as there was no one in the lobby area to give directions. Eventually, a court staffer told the influx of people that all courts were situated on the top level of the building. Even the police officers stationed at the St Vincent Street for years, never got a proper tour of the new wing. Yesterday, they were “thrown to the wolves” as they were expected to know where to go with the prisoners.