The delay in taking prisoners to the Blairmont Court on time on Wednesday has led to the preliminary inquiry of murder, trafficking in narcotics and other cases being postponed.
This newspaper was there when the prisoners were escorted to the court close to midday. Magistrate Geeta Chandan expressed disgust over the long time it took to get the prisoners to the court and said it was happening too often.
Last Monday, Senior Counsel Bernard Dos Santos made an official complaint to the court about the issue. The lawyer who has to travel from Georgetown was dissatisfied that his clients were not there for him to proceed with matters.
The magistrate had called on Police Prosecutor Sergeant Satrohan Dayaram to ensure there was no recurrence. He informed the court on Wednesday that he “reported it promptly” to a senior police rank in New Amsterdam who promised “to look into it.”
The magistrate commented that on many occasions her court was left without an orderly as he was sent to New Amsterdam to escort prisoners.
“I have to pass through a crowded courtyard and the orderly is not there to escort me,” she told the court. “I am concerned about my safety.”
Another police rank had to be sent to replace the orderly in the meantime.
