Sascha Wilson
Demolition of the old magistrates court building in San Fernando is expected to begin soon.
That’s the word of San Fernando Mayor Junior Regrello following a notice issued by the San Fernando City Corporation last week that the court was going to be demolished between Friday and Sunday.
The building was still standing yesterday, but workers replaced the yellow caution tape in front the building with a red tape with the word danger written on it.
The roofless building is partially covered by a tarpaulin and pieces of the ceiling, including the guttering, have been breaking off.
There have been several complaints from members of the public and the law fraternity that the 80-year-old historic building has become an eyesore and is a safety hazard.
According to the notice, demolition works were supposed to have commenced on Friday September 20 at 6 pm and continue until 12 pm on Sunday September 22.
It further advised that no vehicular would be allowed along the streets in front of the court and the police station.
Speaking at the corporation’s Statutory Meeting yesterday, the mayor said they were informed by the Judiciary that dismantling of the building would have started last week.
However, he said some work did start last Friday.
He said, “They started last Friday but they are doing internal work so all the cupboards, the air conditioning units and whatever could have been salvaged was moved last week and it will be continued on a weekend basis.”
He estimated that the demolition would take about a month.
“They decided to work on weekends because it can really create some problems with all the schools and the different institutions we have in the community and in the area,” he said.
Last week, president of the Assembly of Southern Lawyers Michael Rooplal renewed his call for urgent measures to be taken to fix the criminal justice system which he said has effectively broken down in San Fernando.
Contacted yesterday, Rooplal said, “There seems to be no end in sight in respect of the plight faced by the southern legal community.”
Two years ago the (old) magistrates court was temporarily relocated to the San Fernando High Court and the magistrates court at Madinah building to facilitate road repairs.
A few months later all the courts were relocated to the High Court and to date are sharing courtrooms on a shift system. Operations never resumed in the old court building.
When contacted for a comment via email the Judiciary’s court protocol and information manager Carl Francis said he would respond as soon as possible but to late yesterday no response was forthcoming.