Magistrate’s Court back in operation after more than two decades

Oct 31, 2012 News

After being out of service for more than two decades, the Sisters Magistrate’s Court, which serves the East Bank of Berbice, is back in operation. The first sitting was held yesterday. The court was last used in 1991 and had been shut down due to its dilapidated state.
Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo who presides over the New Amsterdam and Reliance Magistrates’ Courts now has the additional responsibility to oversee the proceedings at Sisters. Three matters were called when court got underway yesterday at 13:00 hrs, the stipulated time. Court is scheduled to be held every Tuesday.

An interior and exterior view of the Sisters Magistrate’s Court

According to Attorney at law Mursalene Bacchus who served two terms as a Magistrate, he was on the bench when the court ceased functioning. He said that the building had become uninhabitable.
All matters from the East Bank Berbice were transferred to the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.
The court was rehabilitated under the Justice Improvement Programme.
The courts functioning in Berbice at the moment are the main court in New Amsterdam, Blairmont, Fort Wellington, Weldaad, Springlands, No. 51, Whim, Albion, Reliance and Kwakwani, up the Berbice River. The remand centre at the New Amsterdam prison holds sessions on Thursday.
The only non-functioning court at the moment is the Black Bush Magistrate’s court, which had been abandoned. However according to information it is currently undergoing rehabilitation. (Samuel Whyte)

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