The Magistrates Court in Port-of-Spain was upended yesterday, with many cases being adjourned because police and prisons officers had engaged in a planned sickout. Case after case was adjourned to a later date because police who were state complainants were not around. In the tenth court, Magistrate Adrian Darmaine had to successively reschedule cases because the police were not present when called.
“Oh yes they are resting and reflecting. Is it that they are resting on their reflections or reflecting on their rest?” the peeved magistrate said While court was in progress the prison vans also failed to bring anyone from remand. Eventually, Darmaine left the court stating that court would resume when the prison vans arrived. However, because more than 60 per cent of prison officers engaged in the rest and reflection, none of the prisoners on remand were eventually taken to court.
One of the officers of the court told T&T Guardian, “We went through the list and we are waiting for the charge cases. They (the police officers) did not show up. He (the Magistrate) can adjourn their cases, or he could dismiss it. However, the case can only be dismissed if the matter is for trial, if not it will be adjourned.”
Senior Magistrate Gail Gonzales experienced the same frustration in the fourth court (4A). Though Gonzales did not adjourn her court early like Darmaine, she chided a lawyer for making a joke about the situation. “Don’t make jokes. I’m kind of upset with the police right now. So they are supposed to rest and reflect for two days?” Gonzales said. Richard Clarke-Wills, an attorney, said though the police and prison officers’ action was an inconvenience, he supported their cause.
“I am from England and I believe in unions. You need to pay people for a fair day’s work. We are inconvenienced, but we will manage,” Clarke-Wills said. The T&T Guardian understands the Arima court was also affected by the sickout.