Dear Editor,
The main entrance to the courts of the High Court for use by the public, litigants, witnesses, and such legal practitioners as may choose it, is off South Street at the south-western corner of the compound. Three times each year the pavement, drains and adjacent roadway are scrupulously cleaned for a ceremonial judicial parade, (one day to be justified for my satisfaction) marking the opening of the statutory criminal assizes.
On the other business days of the year, that very ceremonial territory is allowed to harbour various items of litter generously provided by our citizens. In particular after the midday recess, any such litter is strewn right in front of and around that entrance and remains as a greeting spectacle for all who may care to enter or pass by. It would appear that it is only on the three days of that morning ceremony when any member of the judiciary or the Registrar of the Court traverses that area.
But much worse, scores of legal practitioners on the way up to the courts meekly accept those shameful conditions as “just one of those things” and go about their business without critical comment. Very sad indeed!
This same attitude applies to a similarly shameful, but potentially dangerous situation occurring over the western inner pavement of the court yard. I refer to the stream of filthy greenish effluent from some sanitary facility, probably connected with the Deeds Registry and spreading across the entire pathway. The public at large must undertake this disgusting and hazardous journey by exposure to these shameful conditions.
My letter of two years ago to the Registrar of Deeds and the Registrar of the Supreme Court appears to have borne no fruit. The shame continues. The slimy conditions persist. When pride has gone, what hope remains?
Yours faithfully,
Leon O Rockcliffe
