Rio Claro protests shut down courts

The blockade at key points along the Naparima/Mayaro Road prevented persons from entering and leaving the area, including personnel from the Rio Claro, Princes Town and Mayaro Magistrates’ Courts.

According to police officers, the presiding magistrate in Rio Claro Magistrate’s Court, Maria Busby Earle-Caddle was absent as well as the Justice of the Peace (JP). The small staff who managed to turn out for work, had to call in an assistant JP from the Mayaro Magistrate’s Court. After arriving at the building, the assistant postponed all matters.

In the Mayaro Magistrate’s Court located at Guayaguayare Main Road, the presiding Magistrate Amina Deonarine-singh was also absent and a JP postponed all matters. Newsday learnt within an hour, court was completed.

Court, Protocol and Information Manager Jones P Madeira confirmed the early closure of the courts and revealed that the cashier for the Princes Town court had difficulty in getting to work. From as early as 3 am, residents blocked strategic points along the Tabaquite Road and the Naparima/Mayaro Road demanding that the deplorable roads be fixed. Armed with placards while surrounded by burning debris, residents yesterday called on their Member of Parliament Winston “Gypsy” Peters and the Government to assist. For the past two weeks, the residents have been blocking different points along the Tabaquite Road in Jeffers Crossing, Rio Claro to highlight their frustration.

Several huge potholes were seen along the road and motorists had to manoeuvre around them in order not to damage their vehicles. But yesterday while residents were protesting at Jeffers Crossing, residents were simultaneously doing the same along the Naparima/Mayaro Road in Libertville, Rio Claro.

Chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, Hazarie Ramdeen, told Newsday he attempted to meet with the residents but because the roads were blocked , he was unable to do so.

While he sympathised with fellow residents, Ramdeen added the problem cannot be fixed within days.