The Grenada Bar Association (GBA) is concerned about the lack of a functioning court on the sister isle of Carriacou.
GBA president, Ruggles Ferguson has despatched a letter to this efffect to Minister of Legal Affairs, Claris Charles who is also the island's Minister of Education and Labour.
Following is the full text of the letter:
Hon. Claris Charles
Minister of Legal Affairs
Ministry of Legal Affairs
H.A. Blaize Street
ST. GEORGE'S.
January 21st, 2008
Hon. Minister,
Re: Non-functioning Carriacou Magistrate's Court
It is with deep concern that I write to you on the current non-functioning of the Carriacou Magistrate's Court which serves both Carriacou and Petit Martinique. As you must be aware, this Court sits on the third Monday to Wednesday of each month, a mere three days per month.
In November 2007, renovations began on the compound which houses the Court and the Carriacou Police Station. When the Court sat in November, work had already started on the outside of the building. After that sitting, the staff of the Court was instructed to vacate the premises so as to allow work to begin on the inside.
In compliance the two staff members secured the contents of the Court, including the court records, books and furniture which are now stored at the old Ministry of Carriacou and Petit Martinique building.
Since then, Hon. Minister, no alternative accommodation has been made available as a temporary facility while the renovations are being carried out which I understand should be completed by May 2008.
You would no doubt appreciate the serious implications for the administration of justice in Carriacou and Petit Martinique as a result of this totally unacceptable state of affairs.
The unavailability of a facility for the sitting of the Court in December 2007 has resulted in the non-selection of jurors for the Assizes for the year 2008. The sitting for January 21st to 23rd has had to be cancelled, creating a backlog in the system.
Apart from the issue of Court sittings, there is no Court office which can give rise to a catastrophic situation.
The police as well as private citizens have no place to file actions, fines imposed by the Court cannot be collected, warrants cannot be prepared and executed, fixed penalty tickets for traffic offences cannot be paid, just to give you an idea of the host of problems which are arising.
It has been brought to my attention that arrangements are being made to rent certain premises to arrest this untenable situation. To date, these have not been finalized. In the meantime the people of Carriacou and Petit Martinique are being denied access to justice via the Magistrate's Court.
I urge you therefore, Hon. Minister, to deal with this state of affairs as a matter of urgency. There must be several options which are open to the State in finding a temporary facility for the Court.
I find it difficult to understand how such a situation can arise especially since the Attorney-General of Grenada is the Minister of Carriacou & Petit Martinique Affairs. Surely the people of our sister isles deserve better.
I look forward to your prompt action.
Yours faithfully,
Ruggles Ferguson
Ruggles Ferguson
President
Cc. Hon. Chief Justice, E.C.S.C
Attorney General
Chief Magistrate
