CJ wants judgments ‘today’

The CJ made the point yesterday while apologising for the failure of the Court of Appeal registry to inform attorneys for appellants that judgment in their matter would be delivered "today." He said there was a "bungling" by someone in the registry, and he suggested that by sending information via e-mail, such blunders would not re-occur. Martineau was in court representing his client the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT).

The Court of Appeal, comprising Sharma and Justices Wendell Kangaloo and Alan Mendonca, was delivering its judgment in a matter brought by Gillette Marina Ltd (GML) against the PATT. The judgment delivered by Kangaloo dismissed the appeal by GML, and ordered it to pay costs fit for both senior and junior attorneys.

GML had taken PATT to court, claiming it had unlawfully revoked, rescinded or withdrew its promise to allow GML to establish a floating dry dock facility at the Port-of-Spain port.

The substantive matter was heard before Justice Peter Jamadar. Representing GML were Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC and D Rambally, while Martineau and Deborah Peake represented the port.

There were three appeals which were consolidated.