Tribunal to hear cases at Hall of Justice

“Any person lawfully detained by virtue only of the Emergency Powers Regulations, 2011 or any Act or regulations made under Section 7 of the Constitution (“the detainee”) has a right to have his/her case reviewed by the Review Tribunal,” the tribunal said in a press release issued late Thursday.

Tribunal chairman Gilbert Petersen SC and members Deborah Peake SC and Rajmanlal Joseph announced that the tribunal will hold proceedings at the Hall of Justice, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain.

In the release, the tribunal outlined the procedure persons who are detained under the specific emergency orders must adopt.

Any detainee desirous of having his case reviewed by the tribunal must make a written request signed by him or his representative. This application may be lodged at locations in north and south Trinidad.

Applications may be lodged at:

(i) the Registry of the Supreme Court, Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain;

or (ii) the Sub-Registry of the Supreme Court, San Fernando;

or (iii) the Sub-Registry of the Supreme Court, Tobago;

or (iv) the Secretariat of the Review Tribunal, Hall of Justice, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain.

“Upon receipt of a request for a review, the secretary of the Review Tribunal shall promptly notify the Minister of National Security who shall forthwith submit to the secretary of the Review Tribunal the grounds upon which the detainee was detained and such other particulars as the minister may think fit due regard being had to the public interest,” the tribunal said.

“Upon receipt of the grounds referred to in paragraph 6 above, the secretary to the Review Tribunal shall furnish to the detainee the grounds and notice of the time and place at which the review will be held to enable the detainee to present his case against the detention.”

“The detainee will be entitled to present his case to the Review Tribunal in person or through a legal representative.”

All proceedings will be in camera.