Chancellor has not responded to my concerns over conditions at courts

It may be recalled that I complained in a letter to the media about the practice in our Magistrates’ Courts of summoning witnesses to attend Court at 8:30 in the morning, having them wait in extremely uncomfortable conditions, including appallingly bad toilet facilities, when Magistrates and Lawyers roll into Court very much later.

In addition to which, the majority of our Courts have to be accessed by climbing long flights of stairs with no provision for the elderly.

I, therefore, decided to write the Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, respectfully drawing these matters to her attention, providing relevant details and inviting the Commission to urgently review and address the administration of our Magistrates’ Courts in the public interest consistent with the belief that we presume to live in a civilized society in which our Courts should set the standards and serve as an example.

I copied the letter to all the Members of the Commission.

I wrote the Chancellor (ag), via email, on 8th March, 2024. Receipt of my letter has not been acknowledged nor, to the best of my knowledge, has it been put before the Commission for discussion.

It is no wonder, therefore, that these conditions are allowed to prevail and further deteriorate.

I was, however, pleased to see that at a recent address to nine new Magistrates who have been appointed, Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George, reminded them “to embody integrity and strive for competence, efficiency and effectiveness in their roles”.

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento