The Port-of-SpainMagistrates' Court was disrupted on March 9by a go-slow by police and Prison Guards.
Case after case was adjournedbecause police officers who were state complainants did not show up.
In the tenth court, Magistrate Adrian Darmanie had to successively reschedule cases because the police officers were not present when called.
"Oh yes, they are resting and reflecting," the peeved magistrate said. "Is it that they are resting on their reflections or reflecting on their rest?"
While court was in progress, the prison vans were yet to bring anyone in remand from the prisons.
Eventually Darmanie left the court stating that court would resume when the prison vans arrived. However, because of the go-slow with the prison officers, where more than 60 per cent of prison officers engaged in the rest and reflection, none of the prisoners on remand was sent to court.
An officerof the court told theGuardian, "We went through the list and we are waiting for the charge cases. They (the police officers) did not show up. He (the Magistrate) can adjourn their cases, or he could dismiss it. However, the case can only be dismissed if the matter is for trial, if not it will be adjourned."
Senior Magistrate Gail Gonzales was experiencing the same frustration in the Fourth Court (4A). Though Gonzales did not adjourn her court early like Darmanie, she chided a lawyer for making a joke about the situation.
"Don't make jokes. I'm kind of upset with the police right now. So they are supposed to rest and reflect for two days?" Gonzales said.
Richard Clarke-Wills, an attorney, said though the police and prison officers' go slow was an inconvenience, he supported their action.
"I am from England, and I believe in unions. You need to pay people for a fair day's work. We are inconvenienced, but we will manage," Clarke-Wills said.