Prisoners angry at not being brought to court

The Arima Magistrates’ Court serves a large district and sources revealed yesterday that remanded prisoners were not brought to the court for their matters.

According to lawyers and family members of persons remanded, those expected to appear before Senior Magistrate Indrani Cedeno were not brought by the police and the explanation given was that there were some 53 charge cases expected to make their first appearances in court and as such there would be no space in the holding cells of the courthouse for remanded prisoners.

Sources said Cedeno, after making her own inquiries of the police, instructed them to bring the remanded prisoners to court.

Up to late afternoon, sources said, none had been brought.

In his address at the opening of the law term, Chief Justice Ivor Archie again expressed his frustration at the fact that no judicial complexes were built despite promises by the previous government.

He noted, however, that refurbishment work at the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court was completed while work continues on the Siparia Magistrates’ Court, and the new magistrates’ court building in San Fernando, which is expected to be completed next year.