Chronic under-staffing within the T&T Police Service Court and Process Branch has been identified as a major factor affecting the efficency in transportation of prisoners to and from the nation’s court. The issue was raised by head of the department, Senior Supt Kenneth Cordner as he sought to give an explanation for the virtual shutdown of criminal courts in Port-of-Spain earlier this week because of the absence of remand prisoners.
Cordner was summoned to court yesterday by the presiding judge in the Vindra Naipaul-Coolman murder trial, Malcolm Holdip, after he (Holdip) was forced to adjourn the high profile case over three consecutive days this week. As he was being questioned by Holdip, Cordner admitted that only 35 police officers were currently assigned to the Hall of Justice—half the complement required for guarding prisoners and the courtrooms at the Hall of Justice.
He said that 24 officers were absent on Monday because of gridlock caused by nationwide roadblocks, with an average of ten missing work on Tuesday and Wednesday for various reasons including vacation, maternity and sick leave. “Because of this low strength it would not have been prudent in the interest of safety, to escort the prisoners as normal,” Cordner said.
Despite admitting to the staff issues affecting his department, Cordner sought to divert blame to the Prison Service for the situation on Wednesday when four of the 12 men on trial before Holdip were not transfered from the Port-of-Spain State Prison. “It is out of our hands if prisoners are not handed over to us. We always arrive on time but we have no say when we reach the prisons,” Cordner said.
Asked about what measures were being taken to rectify the situation, Cordner said the police service was currently engaged in a major recruitment drive. However, he admitted the process was tedious and time consuming. Holdip urged Cordner to find a temporary solution as he stated that this week’s delays had significantly impacted on all parties involved in the trial. “It is not like we got a day off. We have things planned and prepared and this just scrambles our day,” Holdip said.