Several people charged over the weekend of September 16-18, were taken to prison on Monday September 19, unable to secure bail because no magistrate showed up for work in San Fernando.
The magistrates instead attended a wellness seminar hosted by judiciary officials, who described the absence as “normal” and apologised for the inconvenience.
In their absence, Clerk of the Peace Alfred Ali presided over court matters for the five courts. He informed at least 30 defendants of the charges they faced and adjourned the matters. Since Ali does not have the magisterial powers, people making their first court appearances were unable to enter pleas.
Several matters, including seven men charged with breaching the 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew between Friday to Sunday, are adjourned to on Wednesday September 21.
Those in custody since their arrest could not be granted bail and remained behind bars.
When the charge of marijuana possession was read to one man, he said, “I guilty, I guilty’’, only to be told that he would be sent to prison until Wednesday.
Outside the courthouse family members of several prisoners complained that the matters of their relatives were put off to another date.
“My husband in custody since last week. He come down today and it have no magistrate. That not fair, that not right,” one woman said.
Apart from the alleged curfew breakers, Akiela Joseph, who was denied bail at her last court appearance, was remanded in prison custody until October 17.
Joseph was charged by Constable Elliot with unlawful and malicious wounding after she allegedly hit Mark Seaton on the head with a bottle.
The alleged incident occurred around 9 p.m. on August 19 at a bar on Coffee Street, San Fernando.
Commenting on the situation at the court, Court Protocol and Information Manager Jones P Madeira said, “This is quite normal. Whenever magistrates are away, the Clerk of the Peace assumes the responsibility to deal with bailable offences which is what happened this (yesterday) morning.”
Madeira said the two-day session had been arranged “sometime ago and mechanism were put in place. Magistrates’ training is important. If anything fell through the cracks and there were any inconveniences to anyone, the judiciary apologises sincerely.”
A comment made about this incident by a citizen: “I think this is very irresponsible of the judiciary. With the current state of emergency, their courts are already full and backing up, yet they take tax payers time to go on a seminar! Could this not have been done on the weekend or at another more convenient time? What convenient for them not the hundreds who have to suffer while they socialize!”
No comments:
Post a Comment