A new building to house the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court was established one and a half years ago but it still has not been put into use. In the meantime sessions are being held at the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) boardroom which proves to be inconvenient. This week we asked persons to comment on the issue. Here are their responses:
Anil Nandlall, attorney-at-law/
parliamentarian
‘For the first time I realized that is where the court is being held and having appeared at the facility I found it to be very inconvenient. I noticed that there is nowhere proper to put the magistrate [during adjournments] and the prisoners. I wish to lament the fact that although millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money was used to construct a brand new magistrate’s court approximately one and a half years ago it is still not open. That is quite unfortunate because presently the court is being housed at the RDC boardroom and it is not suitable… I am calling on the relevant authorities to ensure that the facility is put to the use for which it is made.’
Harrinarine Baldeo, Region Five
chairman
‘I want to express my deep concern about the delay in the opening of the new court. Since it was completed no information was given as to when it would be opened. Maybe there is a legitimate reason but we need to know what is going on. At present the court is being held in the RDC boardroom and we need the building. When the facility was given to them almost 10 years ago they were told to use it for only one year. The new building has been completed almost two years ago and I do not know why they are not putting it to use.’
Jailall Kissoon, attorney-at-law
“It is a grave misfortune and a great expense to the taxpayers that the administrators of justice cannot discharge their functions in an environment of comfort. It is very sad that the building is available to house the magistrate, staff and litigants and yet it stands there as a ‘whited sepulchre.’ It is a great shame that I went with the orderly in the ante room called the magistrate’s office and a pig will run out. The time has come when it must be recognized that a strong judiciary is the bulwark of social justice and the guarantee of fundamental rights.”
Narine Chattergoon, RDC worker
“Whatever system needs to be put in place the authorities need to do so quickly so the new magistrate’s court can be opened. They need to put their acts together because it has been a long time since the new building was completed. The present building seems to be very inconvenient.”
Anita Ramphal, domestic worker
“The new court building is beautiful and it has been completed for a long time. I don’t know why they are waiting to start using it. That is the right place for them to hold sessions so why do they have to use the old building. They do not have proper seating accommodation, even for the magistrate and the lawyers. A lot of people have to be standing up for long hours. When the rain falls the compound is muddy and people have to go into the court with all the mud.”
Lilawattie Nibur, cash crop farmer
“The condition of the court building and the compound is bad enough. When the rain falls people cannot go in and come out as they like because they can easily slide down. The place where they are holding court at present is very inconvenient. It is always crowded and a lot of people have to wait their turn on the corridor. Rain would splash in on them but there is nowhere for them to seek shelter. They need to make use of the new building fast before the other building collapse on them and someone gets hurt.”
Shameer Khan, public servant
“I feel that optimum use should be made of the new facility and that would lessen the burden for the use of the regional boardroom. I am sure the region has many activities and would need to use the building. I applaud the government for the steps they took to build the new police station and the court to provide better accommodation. But while I am glad that they put the station to use as the other building was derelict, I wish they would do the same for the court. The present facility is congested and the new building would offer more comfort, convenience and a more positive attitude for work.”
Joel Persid Edmond, attorney-at-law
“The rain causes the court compound to be all slushy and slippery and although I take pride in my shoes I had to enter the court with it all messy; wiping did not make much difference. The Blairmont compound too was flooded during the last session and I had to go home with wet socks and shoes. It is a shame that at Fort Wellington the witness box and the dock to swear persons who are charged for serious offences are broken. The dock has been thrown out on the corridor. The accused have to go behind the so-called bar table and that is not in keeping with the practice and procedures of the court. At one time a magistrate refused to swear a witness from the broken dock. Prior to returning to Guyana to start my practice I visited courts in 13 Caribbean countries and this is the worst I have seen. There is no proper security in terms of the prisoners; they have to sit in the open court. The courtroom which is always overcrowded has just three short benches and a lot of people have to be standing at the back and on the corridor, blocking the breeze. The magistrate’s chamber is the boardroom kitchen and it is infested with bats. It is not like those in authority cannot do better because they have the new building; it seems like they do not care. I hope that whatever is holding back the opening would deal with it expeditiously. No one was speaking out before because of the hope given that the new building would have been opened in January.”
Claudet Sherif, hairdresser
“I don’t know the reason for the authorities not opening the court but if it is because they do not have enough finance they should try to raise some funds. It is a very long time now since I see that building is just closed up and that is not good enough. How much longer do people have to wait before they benefit from it? The present building does not provide the accommodation that is suitable for a court. The new building is convenient and it is the right place to facilitate the amount of people. It would be much more comfortable; everyone likes to be comfortable. Even the location is better because there is access to the police station next door. There are a lot of lawyers who go to the present facility and I think they should come together and voice their concern because it is in their interest too. Those in authority should look into it urgently and don’t let the people of Berbice as well as others wait much longer to enjoy this beautiful building.”
Darren Mc Calmont, labourer/cattle farmer,
“I think it is high time the people in authority open the new court immediately. Every day people pass the building and they keep wondering if it would be another white elephant like the building they renovated for a fire service at Onverwagt [West Berbice]. I can’t see how they could finish the building so long and yet people cannot make use of it. It is not fair when you go to court and you can’t get to sit. If you go and stand on the corridor or in the yard you are exposed to the elements. Besides, the present building has just one toilet facility and the lawyers, people who have cases, the police and even the magistrate have to use the same one.”
