Source: Real News Antigua- The present condition of the St. John’s Magistrates Court at the Knuckle Block location is causing concern to members of the legal fraternity, especially attorneys who work there on a daily basis.
One of these, Leon Chaku Symister, is chastising the Gaston Browne Administration – in particular, the Ministry of Works – over its disregard for the maintenance and general upkeep of government buildings and work spaces.
Symister reports that, currently, only two courtrooms are functional, and must be shared among the three magistrates stationed there.
As is the case with other government premises, the buildings have become overrun with mold, which reportedly developed because of a leaking roof. This, Symister says, has impacted the Traffic Court, especially.
According to Symister, many litigants, witnesses, and defendants are being inconvenienced by having to wait long hours – particularly those showing up for civil cases – before their matters are heard.
Apparently, the Criminal and Traffic Courts function first; and when all their cases for the day are dispensed with, then the Civil Court is convened.
Symister says that, at the end of the day, it is the people of the Grays/Green community who will suffer.
He laments that they have been deprived of the proper use of their community centre – which has become rundown without them ever having the benefit of it.
Quite a number of government work spaces are in a deplorable condition, having been infested with mold or by rodents, including the country’s lone public hospital.
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What an embarrassing situation; and with the world looking on as well. Again, Antiguans pay a lot of taxes and we expect a lot better than this – especially after the recent tax hikes.
Gaston Browne and his ABLP cohorts keep telling the us that we are an economic powerhouse … which parts of the country in particular?
The lies and falsehoods just keeps rolling off their tongues.
WE DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER!
We had been hearing and getting reports about The Medical Center’s condition for quite some time.
The public cry for help was ignored, until a ABLP party hack wrote a rage letter telling the world of his experience; and the fact he only got attention after he called the Prime Minister.
Note to Esquire Symister:
I am assuming that your strategy is to get an ABLP aligned attorney to write a scathing article on the deplorable situation at the temporary courthouse at knuckle block ( love that name )
It is very clear from the Medical Center situation; until an ABLP aligned person in the legal profession or the judiciary decides to take action like Troy Allen did, and embarrass the Minister in charge: Esquire Symister you are “whistling Dixie”
A country’s Health system, its education systems, and the judiciary are the basic cornerstones of its civilization.
We are failing in two of three categories. When almost 70% of males leave school semi-illiterate; we may be failing in the third.
The day to day operation of Antigua’s courts, especially the Magistrates court, is yet another prime example of Gaston Browne’s failed State administration. The way all parties are expected to show up at 9 a.m. and possibly have to wait around until 1 p.m. before being called up for their hearing. And then to be nonchalantly issued with another pathetic slip of paper with a date 3 months in the dim and distant future because their matter is adjourned without so much as an explanation.
When are the people going to demand that the court administrators take lessons in how to draft a proper court scheduling system whereby parties are given a series of appointment times at 15 minute intervals? This is how it was done in the UK 65 YEARS AGO! It is long past due time to give the clueless old guard ABLP dunces the boot and replace them with tech savvy leaders who know how to leverage modern IT systems to deliver a 21st Century national government to long suffering Antiguans.
I these conditions are true The Bar Association and the judiciary should be the parties clambering for better work conditions.
On behalf of the public; the most effective entity is Civil Society groups led by The Ecumenical Council and The Faith Leaders who should be the parties advocating for the public.
Why aren’t The Ecumenicals and Faith Leaders in Antigua and Barbuda
doing why Ecumenicals do in other Democratic societies.
Why aren’t they being the leaders of Civil Society?
Why aren’t The Ecumenical as a group, standing up for the poor people; who can’t stand up for themselves?
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