Sando courthouse facing shutdown

THE San Fernando City Corporation is threatening to shut down the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court “within 28 days” if conditions do not improve. The Local Health Authority of the City Corporation, in a letter to Chief Justice Sat Sharma, painted a terrible picture of the conditions and made recommendations for the improvement of the building at the corner of Harris and Court Streets. But sources told Newsday last night that there is no way the Judiciary can do anything to improve the conditions at the existing building.

Two buildings were earmarked by former attorney general Glenda Morean-Phillip in 2003 as a replacement for the existing courthouse. No infrastructure was done to these buildings, although the Judiciary has been paying more than $75,000 a month for more than a year for the shells. When contacted last night, CJ Sharma admitted receiving a copy of the letter yesterday. “I have been saying it, repeating it in my speeches, things are just moving too slow. What else I am expected to do? The judiciary does not have funds or the where-it-all to deal with this. It is unfortunate that it has come to this,” the CJ added.