No accommodation for witnesses; no room for lawyers to confer with their clients; no robe room, no audiovisual projection equipment mounted, and no media space.
These are some of the deficiencies that became clear on Tuesday as the High Court began sitting at its new temporary location at the former NCB Building on Bedford and Grenville streets in Kingstown.
In fact, in the public gallery, there were 46 chairs and 46 jurors had been summoned.
This meant that there was no space for the public to hear the judge’s comments as the new assizes opened at the former bank, which was converted into a court complex.
Interns, a senior police officer and iWitness News, the sole member of the press present, were accommodated in or near the area where the jury would sit during the trial
And while the new courtroom has a space to house accused people away from the view of those in the courtroom, there was some initial confusion about which dock the accused should stand in.
Initially, they were taken to the dock toward the right side of the court, meaning that the accused had to walk across the courtroom, and in front of the judge and other officers of the court, which is usually not allowed.
However, later in the sitting, this was adjusted and the accused stood in the dock closer to the holding area.
If this arrangement and the positioning of the dock continue, it would mean that the jury and the other members of the court would have a clear view of the faces of the accused during trials.
However, the position of the other dock could mean that witnesses would be testifying with their backs to the jury.
Justice Rickie Burnett is presiding over the court, which was previously located on the top floor of D’Ville Plaza, located one block away, on Halifax Street, Kingstown.
There is one criminal court in the new temporary location, where the upper floor houses the civil court.
The main high court building, the 200-year-old building across the street that was also home to the Parliament building, has been closed for over a year for repair.
The government has announced plans to build a hall of justice in Richmond Hill to house all of the courts in Kingstown.
In his remarks on Tuesday, Justice Burnett said that the acting Chief Justice Margaret Price-Findlay issued a notice on Sept. 9, declaring the building a courtroom.
The judge said the chief justice expects the assizes to continue through Dec. 21 or 22.
Justice Burnett also welcomed the new acting Director of Public Prosecution, Duane Daniel, who is filling in that capacity as the former office holder, Sejilla Mc Dowall has been appointed to act as a judge, assigned to Dominica.
The judge noted that the court is once again in the heart of Kingstown — at street level in a prominent building — adding that everyone is welcome to witness the proceedings.
Justice Burnett also said that he attended the judges’ conference on criminal justice that ended last week.
He said the highly skilled and knowledgeable presenters addressed important topics such as jury selection, jury inquiry, pre-arraignment matters, complex criminal trials, DNA evidence, summation, judge-alone trial, digital evidence, artificial evidence and judicial evidence.
“So, as you can see from the agenda that we had, quite a lot of topics were addressed,” Justice Burnett said.
He said that coming out of that meeting, as the trial judge assigned to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he intends to make some changes.
“Don’t expect me to announce the changes that I am going to make. Over time, you will see what those changes are,” the judge said.
Before dismissing the jurors, the judge noted to them that when they are not on duty, they are expected to return to their places of employment.
“And I let you know that because employers have been complaining because employees, when they are not in court and are excused, do not return to work,” Justice Burnett said.
“Don’t expect me to say kindly go back to work, but that is what is expected of you.”
What about exit in case of an emergency.