Southern lawyers call for physical court building in San Fernando

Sascha Wilson

Senior Reporter

sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt

The Judiciary is being called upon to find alternative accommodations to resume physical civil and criminal trials in south Trinidad.

Speaking at the Assembly of Southern Lawyers (ASL) Christmas Dinner on Saturday at Paria Suites Hotel in La Romain, ASL president Saira Lakhan said she had been lobbying for the Judiciary to provide alternate and more courts in San Fernando since the closure of the San Fernando High Court building.

She said litigants were at a disadvantage, especially elderly litigants, who may not know how to use a computer.

While physical trials are being held at the Waterfront Centre in Port-of-Spain, she said it was difficult to get early trial dates as it serviced North, Central and South litigants.

“So the reality is the San Fernando Court has been closed, and there have been no frequent updates from the Judiciary with transparent or open updates as to when that court would be reopened and in terms of whether an alternate court could be used, and no other arrangements were made.”

She said the Judiciary could have used the option of renting a building temporarily and outfitting it to have a court, or the Princes Town courts could have been used to have civil trials.

Adding that many South practitioners were unhappy with this situation, she said, “So it is unfortunate that after having such a long period while the rest of the Caribbean, the Eastern Caribbean has opened up and has full in-person court again or in-person hearings that we can’t have the same in San Fernando or south of the Caroni bridge.”

Although they were happy with the virtual hearing for case management conferences and the convenience of not having to travel to court, she said the integrity of trials was questionable as the camera would not always capture the entire room, so they could not be entirely certain if witnesses were being prompted or if proper court rules were being followed.

Calling for answers from the Judiciary, she said citizens deserve to know when the courts will be opened.

“We are calling upon not just the Judiciary to provide answers but the Law Association to act on behalf of all lawyers in T&T and to follow up with having in-person trials resumed in San Fernando.”

Former ASL president Michael Rooplal said the three courtrooms used for trials in South matters were insufficient and accused people were getting trial dates in 2026 and beyond.

Rooplal explained that his clients had been awaiting trial for 20 years, and a week before the trial was supposed to start in March, he got an email from the judge’s team indicating that another judge was using the courtroom.

Their matter was adjourned to this month, which was the earliest date available.

Additionally, he said, the old San Fernando Magistrates Court building was broken down, and a district court was supposed to have been built and opened two years ago, but work had stopped on the building.

During his five-year tenure as ASL president, he said, he wrote religiously to the Chief Justice on these matters but never received an official response.

Guardian Media requested a response from the Judiciary via email.

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