Judiciary Emphasises The Need for Modern Court Houses
October 31, 2011
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October 31, 2011
Judiciary Emphasises The Need for Modern Court Houses
The importance of purpose- built court houses that could meet the need of the Judiciary and its customers was emphasised today (October 31, 2011) as the Judiciary opened a two-day seminar for its personnel , justice sector representatives, and representatives of other related portfolios.
Addressing the opening session at the Carlton Savannah Hotel, Acting Chief Justice, Mr Justice Wendell Kangaloo, hailed the interest and enthusiasm demonstrated by the attendance at the event, adding that it illustrates a particular understanding of the need for purpose-built court houses that allow the Judiciary to offer to all citizens, services that meet the highest standards in terms of safety and accessibility, and services that are designed to make use of modern technologies and equipment and to allow for the timely delivery of justice.
The judiciary organised the event in partnership with the National Centre for State Courts' Institute of Court Management, and invited the participation of officials from the Accommodation Sub Committee Inter-Ministerial/Justice Sector Committee which has been established under the Chairmanship of the Honourable the Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Justice Ivor Archie, to foster collaboration among Justice sector partners in enhancing the administration of justice in Trinidad and Tobago.
Accordingly, personnel attending come from such Ministries as Justice, National Security (including the police and prisons), office of the Attorney General, and Public Utilities, as well as the Law Association, the Criminal Bar Association, and architectural firms who have been in service to the Judiciary.
Three Court Management Consultants of the U.S. Based institute of Court Management, Mr Jim Mc Millan, Mr Chang-Ming-Yeh and Mr Nathan Hall, are facilitating the exercise which ends tomorrow (November 1, 2011). Sessions today included a visit by the entire workshop to the St George West Magistrates' Courts in Port of Spain.
Speaking at the opening, Mr Justice Kangaloo pointed out that while the Judiciary's presentation of the Seminar to its partners and to critical decision makers within the organisation was certainly a testament to the Judiciary's commitment to modernising its Court facilities and moving to the creation of physical accommodation and spaces that meet the needs of its customers and all stakeholders, the establishment was mindful, however, of its responsibility to be financially prudent in its use of the funding by the state.
"We as an organisation are committed to getting value for money, "the Acting Chief Justice added. "Our citizens expect nothing less. In fact, I put on notice all potential service providers, including those among us that we adhere strictly to this requirement."
Mr Justice Kangaloo said he was confident that following the seminar, participants will leave better informed and able to undertake the task of planning and designing Court houses in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as with a better understanding of the international norms and standards that apply to these activities, and a commitment to modernise the country's courtroom just as the Judiciary modernise its courts processes and procedures.
Speaking earlier, the Judiciary's Court Executive Administrator, Ms Michelle Austin, echoed the sentiments of the Acting Chief Justice for modern court house facilities pointing out that the average age of Court houses in Trinidad and Tobago is 50 years, the oldest of these buildings, the Rio Claro Magistrates Court, being 112 years old.
"While the historical value of these buildings cannot be denied, the judiciary, in terms of courthouses possesses a stock of buildings that have long outlived their usefulness, and that are incapable of facilitating the demands for enhanced security and technology," Ms Austin said
Ms Austin noted that many of the Magistrates Court locations continue to operate in less than hospitable circumstances with only the patience and commitment of staff and the critical need of the community explaining while they operate at all.
"It is a difficult pill to swallow in an organisation in which we are attempting critical process and culture changes, to ask the staff to buy in to such changes when they can legitimately point to what must seem like sub human working condition, she added.
Ms Austin advised, however, that a serious and thoughtful response to the upgrade of the stock court houses "must however be one that is well planned, well resourced, one that gives consideration to demographics, to the needs of the present and the future, to court processes, technology, security, to health and safety, to the environment, etc."
For further information, kindly contact:
Mr Jones P. Madeira, Court protocol and Information Manager
Telephone: (Mobile) 573 8158; (Office) 627 9744
E-mail:
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