No change but Sando Court staff back on the job

At the decrepit San Fernando Magistrates’ Court, disgust and disenchantment continued among support staff who returned to work yesterday after a no-show last Thursday and Friday to protest the unsanitary conditions under which they are forced to work. Now, policemen are adding to the complaints about the working conditions at the court. Yesterday, a filthy residue from the rotting roof dropped onto a desk in the First Court, preventing police complainants in several matters from sitting as they waited on their cases to be called. Attorney Chateram Sinanan, who is a regular at this courthouse, told Newsday, “The conditions at the San Fernando Court is probably the worst in the entire country. This is no exaggeration.” Sinanan added that he had worked at many courts in the country, but none are as bad as the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court.

Sinanan said he sympathised with the clerks who work in the lower section of the court. This department, he said, was sealed off  so that air-conditioning units could be installed. However, to date, no units have been installed. Last week, President of the Magistrates Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Ag Snr Magistrate Ramraj Harripersad said the clerical workers protested the conditions because “they just could not take it anymore.” On a daily basis some notetakers are forced to spray under their seats with insecticide to get rid of mosquitoes. None of the courts are air-conditioned. Grass can be seen growing through some upper windows which are cracked, broken, discoloured and some even stained with moss. Heavy rain sometimes lead to a premature end to matters as leaking often occurs. Nine months ago, Attorney General Glenda Morean and Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls toured the San Fernando courthouse and AG Morean promised to have the courts relocated while the current building was being renovated. A Committee headed by the Chief Administration officer of the Judiciary was appointed to take care of the relocation and refurbishing process. To this day, neither have courts been relocated nor has there been any refurbishing work done on the building.