In the last 15 years, the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court has seen an almost 50 per cent increase in cases filed, leaving its staff and magistrates grappling to keep up.
This was revealed yesterday by acting Chief Justice Allan Mendonca, during the reopening ceremony of the newly renovated Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court building in Chaguanas.
On November 17, 2014, the courthouse was closed and operations were moved to the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court building, where the court sat during the afternoon period. The 60-year-old Chaguanas courthouse was then completely renovated at a cost of $15 million.
The new facility includes audio digital recording in the courtrooms, a public address system, video conferencing capabilities and is completely wheelchair accessible.
“The demand for the services of the court is not within the control of the Judiciary; this may be a matter related to a number of social, economic and demographic variables,” Mendonca said. “The statistics show, however, that there has been a significant increase in the number of matters that are filed in our courts.
“This increase in demand has been accommodated in the same three courtrooms, with the same assignment of three magistrates, the same number of clerks of the peace and staff. Given the trend in terms of demand, this does not seem to be a tenable situation for justice in this district in the next decade.”
Mendonca said outfitting courtrooms with the latest technology was the judiciary’s way of dealing with these demands.
“The Judiciary continues to do its best to address and manage those factors that are, in fact, within its control. Among these are using new tools and technologies to manage the business of the court, equipping staff, judges, magistrates and other judicial officers to use such tools and technologies and putting into practice modern techniques of case and caseflow management and court administration.”
However, he lamented that unless the Judiciary was fully autonomous, shortcomings in the system cannot be correctly addressed.
“One must remember that given the current rules, procedures and practices in the public service, the Judiciary cannot acquire lands, lease buildings, hire staff and undertake many other critical and essential functions that are necessary for supporting the court. That this inability continues to operate to the detriment of court users and customers is without question. That is inconsistent with internationally accepted norms of judicial independence.”
Outlining possible solutions to the issues plaguing the judicial system, Mendonca said, “All of the above have been hindered by circumstances which can be traced ultimately to our lack of control over our affairs, our development, our future, our inability to chart our own course, to implement our plans and then to be held accountable for our success and failure.”