Govt, CJ fight over City Court block

CABINET yesterday agreed to move the seat of democracy — the Parliament — from its historic place, the Red House, and to put in a new, larger building which is to be constructed north of Knox Street (where the magistrates courts are currently located).

Minister of Public Administration Dr Lenny Saith made the announcement at a post-Cabinet briefing at Whitehall yesterday. Saith said an assessment done by his ministry showed that the Red House “ even when it is restored” would not be adequate for the needs of Parliament. He said Cabinet yesterday mandated UDECOTT to be the executing agency. It also agreed on a process for achieving the project. But Chief Justice Sat Sharma was breathing fire last night when contacted by Newsday.  “It doesn’t make sense. We have waited too long for this accommodation for the magistrates and now they are doing this. People must be more sensitive. Not because you have so much power, but this is another arm of the State — the Judiciary.”

CJ Sharma was surprised at the announcement, saying common courtesy demanded consultation between the Judiciary and the Executive. The CJ said that millions of dollars were spent to upgrade the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court. He noted that because proper planning was not carried out, funding had to be found for building a new wing, whose opening date no one knows. “I thought we had a place of stability with this accommodation because of the sub-human conditions at NIPDEC House. This seems to be a collosal waste of funds if Government is planning to take this area for Parliament. Imagine, they will have to demolish these courts. This is a historical site, what a waste!” the CJ added. But according to the PNM, first, a committee of both Houses of Parliament will develop the User Brief; on the basis of this there would be a national design competition for local architects. Saith said yesterday that the process is expected to take about four years.

The Minister disagreed with the view that the lack of consultation with the national community on such an important decision was in any way arrogant or high-handed. “Why shouldn’t the national community support a proper building for the Parliament?” he said adding that the Parliament needed a building where there could be proper meeting rooms for caucuses, for MPs to meet the people and for the people to sit and observe meetings of the parliamentary committees. He said that the PNM had a concept of creating a city centre which placed all the organs of Government within that very block. Prime Minister Patrick Manning endorsed this position. He reminded the media that few of you supported the construction of the Brian Lara Promenade which has proven to be “one of the more creative things that had been done to bring the city back to life again.”

The block identified for the parliament would encompass Knox Street, St Vincent Street, Abercromby Street and Duke Street. Saith said UDECPOTT would begin immediately to acquire the four or five properties needed to take full control of the block. The Minister said he did not “visualize” the magistrates court staying in the building. Saith said Government was looking at several options now for the use of the Red House. Asked whether the long mooted plan of the Prime Ministrer moving the Office of the Prime Minister to the Red House was now taking shape, Saith conceded that this was one of the options to be looked at.