Injunction granted via audio/visual link

The historic event was the first audio/visual link hearing to have taken place under the new rules of court (Civil Proceeding Rule) which were introduced into the judicial system on September 16, 2005.

The case was Maharaj, the claimant, versus the Mayor, Aldermen, Councillors and Citizens of Port-of-Spain, the defendant.

Trial judge Justice Peter Jamadar sat in San Fernando, while the parties in the matter were in Port-of-Spain. Representing Maharaj was attorney Kelvin Ramkissoon, while Peter Wharton represented the corporation.

Using the specially constructed audio/visual conference rooms at the Halls of Justice in Port-of-Spain and San Fernando, the judge was able to conduct hearing of the matter from San Fernando. Members of the media were allowed to sit in on the momentous hearing.

The somewhat informal procedure went on without a hitch, technical or otherwise. Rasheeda Maharaj, her husband David and attorney Ramkisson sat on one side, while Wharton and Deoraj Ramtahal, the city building inspector, were on the other side.

Sitting in on the first ever audio/visual litigation hearing were Deputy Registrar Robin Mohammed, Protocol and Information Officer Tedd Joseph, and a technical officer.

The parties in Port-of-Spain were able to see the judge on a 50-inch plasma screen, and vice versa. The audio was crisp and the video clear.

There was a timer on the bottom of the screen indicating the length of time the matter had progressed. Yesterday’s matter took about 33 minutes.

The simplistic, yet firm approach seemed to have induced a receptive atmosphere as opposed to an aggressive one.

With the new rules, one of the important features is for an attempt to be made to have the matter settled without going to trial, saving much expense on all sides.

At the end of yesterday’s conferencing, the matter seemed headed for timely resolution.

The matter was adjourned and attorneys agreed to try to reach a settlement. If not, the corporation will file its defence by November 18, and the parties, by consent, will return to court on December 2, 2005, for a case management conference.

There are three such conference rooms in the Judiciary, the third being in Tobago. They were all installed at a cost of about $265,000.

The equipment was sourced locally.

These hearings are digitally recorded and copies are available only by authorisation of the judge in the matter.