By KARL E CUPID Tobago bureau Thursday, November 12 2009

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PILOT PROJECT: Chief Justice Ivor Archie, right, and Attorney General John Jeremie in Tobago yesterday at the audio visual link-up pilot project....

A video-conferencing system which allows prisoners to appear before a magistrate in court via an audio-visual link-up from the prison, is to be introduced in the Tobago Magistrates’ Court shortly.

A pilot project initiated yesterday in Tobago was witnessed by Chief Justice Ivor Archie, and Attorney General John Jeremie.

The CJ said the system would be extended to other courts in Trinidad by February.

“We are almost ready to have it rolled out, I mean, as you would see, we have one or two little issues, as in the installation of the fixtures, and that kind of thing, so as soon as we get that worked out with TSTT we would be ready to move on; (and) in terms of rolling out to other courts in Trinidad, we are looking at early next year, possibly February,” he disclosed.

The CJ was speaking to Newsday following a live demonstration of the system at the Scarborough Second Court on Bacolet Street yesterday.

During the demonstration, which was narrated/directed by the TT Court Information Technology (IT) manager, Carol Herbert, a “prisoner” (actually a prisons officer for the purpose of the demonstration) in a special room adapted for the system at the Scarborough Prison, several blocks away, appeared live on a large video screen inside the court room.

The exchanges beween the “magistrate” and the accused (‘prisoner’), as would normally obtain in actual face-to-face court proceedings, were heard via an audio module system in the court.

A most significant aspect of the system is the “privacy mode” feature, which, with the flick of a switch, allows consultation between the accused prisoner and his lawyer to be carried out in strict privacy, and not recorded on the system. Once this mode is activated, all audio coming into the court room is automatically cut off, it was explained. This feature was also demonstrated, however presenting a minor glitch which was quickly resolved.

Discussions on the project began with various stakeholders in 2006. It was noted the system would reduce travel requirements and ultimately travel costs incurred in transporting accused persons on remand in prison to, and from, the various courts across the country, particularly between Trinidad and Tobago and vice versa.

The Chief Justice noted that about 70 per cent of Magistrates’ Court lists are comprised of remand cases. The system was set up at a cost of $1.2 million solely for the technology aspect.

With respect to introduction of the system, the Chief Justice observed, “One of the major (associated) costs we are going to have is for transcription. Once it gets going people are going to call for a lot of transcripts.”

He said efforts were being made to have COSTAATT involved in a relevant training programme to fill this breach.

Later, he told Newsday he did not envisage any problems with regard to objections by defence attorneys who may query the veracity and authenticity of the process via the system. “We have had sensitisation and consultation with the stakeholders, including members of the Bar, so I don’t anticipate that we would have any major problems because we have taken their considerations on board... So I think people are looking forward to it,” said the CJ.

Also present on the exercise were Attorney General John Jeremie, National Security Minister Martin Joseph, and other Government officials, senior officers of the Prisons and Police Services, including Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert, as well as members of the Tobago arm of the Judiciary.