Sando courts face shutdown

THE 28-DAY deadline given by the San Fernando City Corporation Health Department for government to carry out urgent repairs and renovations to the dilapidated San Fernando Magistrates’ courthouse or face closure, ended yesterday. As such, the wheels of justice can come to a screeching halt on Monday if City health officials go ahead and place locks on the doors of the courthouse this weekend.

The courthouse has five courtrooms and an estimated 300 cases are called each day with approximately 100 cases being dealt with daily by the five magistrates, including Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington. Attorneys in San Fernando yesterday threatened not to attend court as a mark of protest against what they described as the blatant failure to carry out repairs to the building on orders from the Corporation’s Health Department. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Magistrates, Ramraj Harripersad, told Newsday yesterday if no attorneys showed up in court on Monday, magistrates would have no choice but “to remain in their chambers.”

The corporation, having found the building unfit for occupation, served notice of 28 days for refurbishing works to be carried out. The notice, signed by Chief Executive Officer Marlene Coudray, warned that failure by November 26, would result in the closure of the building by the corporation. Magistrates and court staff have complained over the years of the cramped surroundings in which they must work and also that they are forced to compete with hordes of cockroaches and other vermin for space. Bat and bird droppings are also a major complaint as well as the stifling heat in the courtrooms. Spokesman for San Fernando attorneys Chaitram Sinanan told Newsday, “We, the attorneys will not attend court on Monday. We believe the time to take action is now.”