President of the St. Lucia Bar Association (SLBA), Andy George, today confirmed that lawyers were boycotting the courts here over deplorable working conditions.
George said that the main court building needed urgent repairs and that the recent collapse of a light fixture that almost injured Justice Rosalyn Wilkinson was the last straw.
“The light fixture above her desk exploded into bits and the judge was spared any serious damage only because her head happened to be a few centimeters from dislodged object.
“She along with those present had to shield their bodies from the elements of the bulb,” George said adding that attorneys congregated outside the courtroom expressing disbelief and outrage at the occurrence.
George said another incident occurred recently when water came gushing down through the ceiling during a heavy rains.
“The light fixture incident has sufficiently enraged the Bar and if they don’t meet our demands we will intensify the action.” he said.
This is the second time the SLBA has taken protest action over the conditions of the court. In September 2009, lawyers marched around the High Court in silent protest of the conditions under which staff, lawyers and clients were expected to operate.
The SLBA said that while some renovation work had been completed it was not sufficient.
“The building on the whole continues to leak, the hole in the step descending in the criminal court is widening, the parking lot still qualifies as the waiting area for persons attending court, while the magistrates still don’t have a proper office.”
George said that the protest was intended to send a strong message to the Ministry of Justice that the conditions need to be addressed immediately.
He said that an assessment carried out by the Caribbean Research Institute found the air quality in the Registry was poor and the air conditioning system was contaminated with fungus and various spores.
The SLBA has sent a letter to Attorney General Rudolph Francis outlining its demands, and would use the opportunity of a meeting with him on Friday to discuss the Legal professions Act to outline their concerns.
Francis could not be reached for comment. (CMC)
