Bail payments at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court were delayed for hours yesterday because of a reported directive from the Ministry of Finance, resulting in the detention of a string of persons who were arraigned.

Reports are that a directive from Finance Secretary Neermal Rekha stipulates that an inspection is carried out at the courts and various government agencies by the Board of Survey on the first working day of every new year. The inspection includes examining ledgers and prior to it being conducted, cash transactions are not permitted.

Stabroek News was told that two clerks, one attached to the Agriculture Ministry and another from the National Registration Centre, were assigned to carry out the inspection at the court from 9 am yesterday. However, at around midday no one had showed up. Consequently, persons who appeared in court and were granted bail were detained because the cashier at the court refused to take any bail payments.

There are reports that Chancellor Carl Singh later intervened and instructed the court to perform its duties to the public.

He reportedly told officials at the Magistrates’ Court that a person’s liberty is of paramount importance and also instructed that the court was not subject to the directive from the ministry. Subsequently, the court started accepting bail payments close to 1 pm.

Stabroek News spoke with attorney Gino Persaud, who said one of his clients was detained during the morning after appearing in court on a minor traffic offence. He recalled his client being locked up at the court for about three hours until his bail payment was accepted.

Persaud said he subsequently went to the court to enquire what was happening and was informed of the administrative procedure. The lawyer said he has no issues with procedure, but found his client’s detention unreasonable.

He said his client along with many others were unlawfully detained and was deprived of their liberties guaranteed under the constitution.