Tax Appeal Board finds a court

THE Tax Appeal Court which closed its doors earlier this month because it was forced to move out of the Hall of Justice, may be back in operation soon. A building has been located to house the Tax Appeal Board and, according to its chairman Anthony Gafoor, the new premises seem to be adequate to house the court. Gafoor said the building which accommodates the Ministry of Tourism on Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, has been chosen as the site for the court. Gafoor said that as soon as the Ministry moves to their new premises, the Tax Appeal Board will move in. The Board Chairman said the Frederick Street building brought new hope for his staff and for the litigants and attorneys who use the court on a daily basis.

The Tax Appeal Court closed its doors on January 13 after members and staff were informed that they had to vacate the second floor of the Hall of Justice by January 23. The Board has occupied the Hall of Justice for more than 30 years. The Board received the bad news last year when staff was informed by Chief Justice Sat Sharma that they had to vacate the second floor by September 1. Gafoor met with Attorney General John Jeremie before and after the deadline, but no proper accommodation was found. Sharma kept insisting that he needed the space at the Hall of Justice as more judges were appointed and they had to share chambers.

Gafoor and the Ministry of the Attorney General looked at various sites but no agreement was reached and the stand-off continued. Gafoor said he even asked for the Winsure building which was renovated to house the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). But the CCJ never moved there, opting instead for the United Trust building on Independence Square until its permanent home on Henry Street was renovated. Gafoor said the Board was informed that the Winsure building was earmarked for the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

When the Board was informed that staff must move by January 23, they were told that temporary accommodation was found for them in the Bryden building, corner of George Street and Independence Square. But that building was only going to accommodate the registry of the court. Added to that, lawyers said they would not be going and sending their staff there. With the Frederick Street building now earmarked for the Board, going to George Street is out of the question, Gafoor added.