The Office of the Chancellor of the Judiciary has announced that the Essequibo High Court, Suddie and Anna Regina Magistrate’s Courts have been closed with immediate effect as a staffer is suspected to have been exposed to the deadly Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
This publication was informed that the staffer travelled abroad recently and was potentially exposed to the virus. As a precautionary measure, staffers working at the courts were told to remain at home and self quarantine.
The courts remain closed for the remainder of the week. They will resume operation on Monday, March 23, 2020.
Last week Friday, the Chancellor of the Judiciary closed the court of Appeal, the High Court in Demerara and the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts at 13:00 hrs to facilitate fumigation and sanitization exercises. These courts resumed operations as per normal today.
The Judiciary said that fumigation of the other courts will be done at the weekends also, and will be conducted periodically as necessary.
Precautionary measures will see members of the public and court users entering the courts, the registries and offices being required to use hand sanitizers which will be provided and placed at the entrances to all court compounds and in strategic locations at all courts.
According to a statement from the judiciary, “Judges and Magistrates, as well as supervisors of court registries and offices, will provide further guidance on the attendance of litigants and progress of trials and hearings. Members of the public not having cases/matters in court but who seek to accompany litigants are encouraged to stay away from the courts.”
The judiciary said that further remand of prisoners will be conducted via skype. It was also disclosed that a fact sheet on COVID- 19 will be issued to staff and members of the public coming to the courts.
Added to that, notices will be placed on notice boards, and at other strategic locations around the courts, with information about responding to the virus and the court protocols.
It also said that a Response Team has been set up to deal with the preparedness, response, and interaction with public health agencies. The team will interface with staff and report to the Chancellor of the Judiciary.
Given the nature and characteristics of COVID- 19 and its potential to disrupt or even halt the functions of the court, it is expected that there will be scrupulous adherence to protocols, the statement added.
