This is the News Single Layout page. This element exists only to be referenced in JS

Two District A Magistrates’ Courts Relocated to the Former “Glencove” Building at Fortlands, Basseterre

Monday, August 22, 2022

Justice and Legal

Magistrates

HIGHLIGHTS

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 21, 2022 (SKNIS): Two of the three District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Courts have a new home in the former “Glencove” building at Fortlands, Basseterre, in the vicinity of the War Memorial and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice & Legal Affairs, Hon. Garth Wilkin stated that he “is pleased that the new District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court complex will become fully operational on Monday, August 22, 2022, so that the backlog of cases which piled up since the closure of the Sir Lee L. Moore Judicial & Legal Services Complex in early June 2022, due to a mold infestation there, can be resolved.”

He added: “I toured the complex with the Senior Magistrate on Wednesday, August 17 and was pleased with the setup, especially the provisions made for parties to check-in and wait in a covered, cool, seating area with bathroom facilities until their matters are called by way of a telecom system. It’s a modern complex, comfortable for the Magistrates, the staff, the lawyers, and the clients, a contemporary and considerate way of facilitating the administration of justice.”

Senior Magistrate His Honour Renold Benjamin said that the new home was well needed and will assist the court with dispensing justice speedily.

“The staff will feel comfortable here and I see them working at optimal levels in this new location. The location will greatly assist with our current backlog of cases. Since the mold was discovered at our previous location we had to abandon the court, so no cases were tried for the past two months. So, we have a backlog, but I am confident that now we will be able to handle all of those matters. I would like to thank the Government for getting a building. Getting an ideal building was very difficult; we tried several locations and we could not have found a location better than this one,” said Senior Magistrate Benjamin.

He said that significant work was done in an effort to renovate the “Glencove” building in the soonest possible time to allow the two Magistrates’ Courts to resume functioning. The new complex is outfitted with all the necessary amenities and spaces needed for a court to function.

“We have the facilities. We have the infrastructure needed for us to deal with any case that may arise. The location is very quiet, much quieter that downtown. We do not have many vehicles passing up and down, not much noise from the public or loud music from events in the Square. We have little to no disturbance up here; it is very quiet and conducive to court operation. You almost do not feel like you are in a court because the environment feels so friendly,” he said.

The two District “A” Magistrates’ Courts administered by His Honour Renold Benjamin (Court Room #1) and His Honour Fitzroy Eddy (Court Room #2) will be open from 9 am to 4:30 pm. All other Magistrates’ Court administrative matters will be dealt with at the new complex and His Honour Benjamin indicated that in the next two weeks cash will be collected at the building, including the payment of traffic tickets.

The new building has a covered external waiting area, external bathrooms, court cashier room, exhibit room, storeroom, kitchenette, internal bathrooms, holding bay, administrative office, Magistrates’ offices and court offices.

Her Honour Magistrate Donna Harris will continue to sit in the single District “A” Magistrate at the Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton Annex located at East Independence Square, Basseterre.

-30-

Article by SKNIS: https://www.sknis.gov.kn/2022/08/21/two-district-a-magistrates-courts-relocated-to-the-former-glencove-building-at-fortlands-basseterre/

It is the principal mission of the Office of the Attorney General to provide legal advice and services to and on behalf of The Crown, and to conduct and respond to all matters of litigation for and against The Crown or any Ministry or Agency of the Government.

Importantly, its mandate includes the extensive oversight of the legislative agenda of the Government.

The Office of the Attorney General also provides administrative support for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and superintends all matters relating to the Electoral Office.

Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs

The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs ensures that the rule of law is facilitated and supported by the various mechanisms by which citizens can have equal access to the justice system and by which they can be afforded the protection of the law. It also takes responsibility for ensuring that the statutes are updated and modernized to keep pace with an evolving society.

Quick and convenient access to important and noteworthy matters relevant to entities under the Office of the Attorney General and departments within the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs.

Hon. Garth Wilkin
Attorney General

Ms. Diana Francis
Permanent Secretary

(Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs)

The Office of the Attorney General

The Office of the Attorney General is chiefly responsible for providing legal counsel and advice to the Executive Branch of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. The functioning of the Office is rooted in the Constitution and is further detailed by the provisions of the Attorney General’s Act Cap 3.02 of the laws of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

One of the more prolific manifestations of the advisory functions of the Office of the Attorney General is its contribution to the legislative agenda of the government. As such, the responsibility of preparation of all legislation: from conceptualization to the presentation of Bills and the crafting of Regulations falls within the purview of the office.

Get In Touch

Government Headquarters,
Church Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts

+1(869) 467-1013

attorneygeneral@gov.kn

Share
Tweet