Thursday, March 29 2007

PRISONERS who have cases before the Magistrates’ Court will soon do so in the comfort of air conditioning as prisoners’ holding cells in courthouses will be fitted with air condition units.

This was announced yesterday by Chief Justice Sat Sharma after he engaged in his first public tour since being reinstated as Chief Justice by President George Maxwell Richards on Monday.

Sharma together with Appeal Court Judge Justice Roger Hamel-Smith (who acted as CJ during Sharma’s absence) toured two buildings in San Fernando which are being refurbished in order to temporarily accommodate the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court.

Sharma said the outfitting of air condition units at prisoners’ cells is being done to prevent prisoners claiming unfair and/or inhumane treatment by the State.

Prisoners’ holding cells at the refurbished buildings will be the first with air condition units. Following the tour, Sharma spoke briefly with the media saying: “I visited the buildings to see the stride and progess made. They will be equipped with modern facilities in which the prisoners’ cells will be air conditioned.”

The cramped condition of holding cells in the magistrates’ court has triggered several riots by prisoners recently. Police officers and presiding magistrates have been verbally abused by frustrated prisoners.

Former Attorney General Glenda Morean and Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicholls last visited the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court in 2003. Sharma said yesterday that the renovations were set back by a lack of labour and building materials.

The Chief Justice jokingly remarked: “There isn’t enough Chinese labourers in the country.” Sharma later praised the technical and administrative staff of the judiciary in ensuring that buildings were available for the magistrates’ court.