Operations at several courts in South Trinidad, including the San Fernando Supreme Court, were crippled yesterday as only a handful of judicial staff members reported for duty.
Members of the public could not conduct cash transactions, file or apply for certain documents in the High Court and the Magistrates’ Courts. In some criminal courts meanwhile, matters could not go on and accused persons were remanded into custody and matter adjourned.
But despite being severely affected as workers heeded the call of Public Service Association (PSA) president Watson Duke to stay home yesterday over impending job restructuring, none of the courts were actually shut down.
Presiding in Courtroom SF 14 yesterday, Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh posted a notice on the court’s door informing attorneys and litigants of the situation. The judge stated, “Due to the absence of my support staff from work I am unable to conduct court today. The staff perform a vital role in the daily work of the court and without their input I am unable to carry on the court proceedings. There are a number of tasks connected with the functioning of the court that cannot be done without them being present.”
There were 13 matters listed before the judge.
Boodoosingh eventually informed the interested parties in a trial that it would be called again today, while the other matters will be called on Monday from 11 am at Courtroom SF10.
Only two of the seven civil courts functioned yesterday. One of the matters heard was a medical negligence trial before Justice Kevin Ramcharan. Over 40 civil matters had to be rescheduled. Two jury trials in the San Fernando First and Second Court still continued. However, in the First Criminal Court, a marshal took on the role of a judicial support officer.
Meanwhile, charge cases were heard in the First Magistrate's Court. The first charge case was called around 11.20 am because it took a while to book the information due to the shortage of staff. However, a justice of the peace had to sit in as the court clerk to assist with the paperwork.
With a severe shortage of administration staff, no matters could have been dealt with in the Princes Town and Rio Claro Magistrates' Courts. Both courts are housed at the Rio Claro Court compound. Persons in custody on charge cases were remanded into custody to reappear on Wednesday. There were no cashiers in those courts, as well as the Siparia and Couva Magistrates' Courts. This meant that members of the public could not conduct any cash transactions, including paying fines, tickets or maintenance fees.
Only seven of the 40 administrative staff members turned out to work in Siparia. In Couva, only the magistrate and the police turned out to work. The clerk of the peace, justice of the peace and counter clerks were absent. Checks at the Point Fortin Magistrate's Court revealed that only a few people stayed away from work.
“Court ran smoothly. We did not have any issues,” said a staff member.