The Supreme Court has announced that all the courts in Essequibo have been closed with immediate effect as it safeguard staff from the deadly coronavirus.

In a release the Supreme Court said consequent on medical advice, the Essequibo High Court, Suddie and Anna Regina Magistrates’ Courts will be closed with immediate effect.
The courts will be opened on Monday March 23, 2020. This decision has been taken due to the possible exposure of a staff member to the Corona virus. “These Courts will be fumigated and the Supreme Court protocols in relation to continued sanitization and the Court’s response to the virus will be followed scrupulously. Constant review and assessment of the situation will be undertaken and Court users will be provided updates. Any inconvenience caused is regretted,” the release stated.

On Sunday the Office of the Chancellor indicated that a number of precautionary measures are being put in place. Persons entering the courts, the registries and offices will be required to sanitise their hands, and the remand of prisoners will be conducted over skype among other measures. The Office of the Chancellor indicated that sanitisers will be provided and placed at the entrances and in strategic locations at all courts. This was one of many measures decided upon at a meeting between Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards and senior court officials on March 12 to address the response of the court system in safeguarding staff and court customers in relation to the virus.
Measures taken also include fumigation and sanitisation exercises at all courts and their environs. This took place over the weekend, and is expected to continue in successive weekends and periodically as necessary. Members of the public who do not have cases or matters in court, are encouraged to stay away from the courts, while constant review and assessment of the situation will be done and updates will be provided to court users and members of the public.

“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 judiciary and the magistracy wish to thank all court users and members of the public for their understanding and cooperation,” the statement said. The statement also noted 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.