Despite massive cisterns on the premises, lack of water forces Magistrates Court into days of early closing

The staff at the St. John’s Magistrates Court reportedly were sent
home early on Wednesday, September 6, because there was no
water in the building.

But a source tells REAL News the building has been out of water
since last Friday, September 1, and this has forced the early closure
of public business, with the staff being sent home by midday since
Monday, September 4.

However, the source says that Wednesday was the earliest the staff
has been dismissed, with the court closing sometime between 9 and
10 a.m.
 

Reports say the early closure could hinder cases being completed in
a timely manner.

Further, parents who collect child-maintenance cheques at the
Court will now have to show up early in the morning to do so. Those
who are unable to make it at that time will encounter some difficulty
in getting their money otherwise, the source notes.
 
Reportedly, the building housing the Court is outfitted with three
cisterns which have the capacity to provide water to the entire
building.
 
Since it was designated as a community centre for the residents of
St. John’s Rural West, the massive water catchments were intended
to ensure that the facility is never without water.  
 
The set-up reportedly was designed with a relay system – to ensure
that if one cistern has a problem with dispensing water the others
would kick in, the source explains. Reportedly these underground
cisterns run from the parking lot to the main building.

It is believed that the current lack of water has to do with the way
the system was set up by the Chinese engineers, and the Public
Works Department does not know how to operate the parts.

Meanwhile, the source also claims that Chief Magistrate Joanne
Walsh had asked that the permanent secretary in the Works
Ministry designate an engineer to work along with the Chinese and
learn how to operate the system.

This request reportedly was made after Walsh was informed by the
Chinese engineer that he had only six months’ more time in Antigua.
 
According to the source, Walsh wrote several letters and made
several phone calls asking that a professional be sent to learn the
system, but she got no response.
 
These challenges with the water system are not unique to the
Magistrates Court. They have been experienced in other buildings
constructed by the Chinese, including the Glanvilles Polyclinic.