New $77M Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts commissioned

After almost 12 months since construction works commenced, the newly-built Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts was on Friday commissioned by the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh and Chief Justice (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards.

The $77 million building located next door to the Sparendaam Police Station consists of two courtrooms, where two Magistrates will be presiding.

Chancellor Carl Singh and Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards commissioning of the new Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts
Chancellor Carl Singh and Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards commissioning of the new Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts

At the simple commissioning ceremony, the Chancellor used the opportunity to announce that Night Court, which had commenced at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in October 2016 to reduce the quantum of backlogged cases, will conclude this month end.

According to Chancellor Singh, the Night Court has met its purpose and so will not be extended.

He further related that the sum of money approved for the operations at the Night Court is also nearly exhausted.

The Night Court was a special measure, which was aimed at reducing the overcrowding at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The Night Court was amplified following the unrest at the Georgetown Prison at Camp and D’Urban Streets on March 3, 2016 where 17 inmates lost their lives while being on remand.

Meanwhile, following the commissioning, Chancellor Singh, Justice Cummings-Edwards, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, along with a number of other magistrates had a tour of the building.

The new court is fully air conditioned and installed is a mechanism to have loud outdoor noises blocked out when inside of the courtrooms.

The Magistrates’ Court is expected to begin working on Monday.

Previously, and while the new building was being constructed, matters brought before the court were being heard at the Better Hope Community Centre Ground which had housed the court.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, who had presided at the old Sparendaam Court, told media operatives following the commissioning of the building that she is very pleased that two Magistrates will be at Sparendaam. She said that previously she was solely entrusted with presiding over all matters that went to the court in that jurisdiction.

She said that the population in that magisterial district has grown significantly and as such the number of matters appearing before the court has increased greatly.

“There is so much that was being demanded from one individual on a daily basis that there isn’t much that you can actually get done. This is what contributed to the backlog as a number of matters were always being put off for a later date” she explained.