Procedures at the High Court came to a halt following a Bar Association boycott on Monday February 14. The decision followed an incident in the Civil Court on Thursday February 10 where a light fixture fell and a florescent blub “exploded” on the judge’s desk during court. According to eyewitnesses, Justice Rosalyn Wilkinson was saved by the skin of her teeth because she was just millimeters away from the falling bulb.
The Bar Association’s stance is that its members shall boycott court proceedings from February 14 until the structural conditions of the court are improved. Since the boycott was initiated, the Bar Association has met with Attorney General Lorenzo Francis. Results of that meeting are evident by the renovation efforts in the C Court.
On Thursday March 3 members of the Bar toured the High Court building along with the Registrar Cybelle Cenac and AG Francis.
Francis told the STAR he estimates that is will be at least two weeks before the renovation work is completed. He further told the STAR his office is doing its best to meet the Bar’s demands.
President of the Bar, Andie George, expressed satisfaction that the Bar’s concerns are being met. “We believe that goodwill has been shown by the Ministry of Justice and based on our discussions we are satisfied at the progress being made,” George said.
The Bar Association convened a meeting on Friday at 3pm. George spoke to the STAR prior to the meeting indicating it was originally called to assess and prolong the protest action. However, based on the response of the Ministry of Justice, he personally is considering proposing to members to call off the protest action.
George further revealed to the STAR that based on the meeting on Thursday with the AG, the contractor is assessing whether the entire upstairs of the courthouse be restricted to attorneys and the public during the duration of works. “In the event the upstairs of the building is inaccessible to the civilians and attorneys, the likelihood of court proceedings continuing during that time is very slim,” George said.
Since Friday’s meeting, the Bar has officially called off it’s protest action.
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