More than two years later, damage done to Knuckle Block court has not been repaired, attorney notes

An attorney-at-law is complaining about the lack of maintenance at
the St. John’s Magistrates’ Court, which has been housed at the
Community Centre at Knuckle Block for about five years now.

The court, which used to operate from the corner of High and
Temple Streets, had to be relocated due to the usual poor working
conditions, including mold, the perennial health issue with
government buildings.

During the events of “Teargas Sunday” on August 8, 2021, Leon
Chaku Symister says that canisters of the noxious gas damaged
seven windows at the court, which are yet to be replaced, some two
years after.

In fact, Symister says, research has shown that there has been no
request for maintenance of the Knuckle Block Building by the
Ministry of Public Works.

There is a hallway close to a bathroom where two buckets have
been placed to catch the water leaking from the ceiling, Symister
says.

He notes that more of the ceiling has been falling out since the
recent heavy rainfall that affected the island. Accordingly, the
attorney says, no activity now takes place in that particular location.

He laments that a building which should have been enjoyed by the
people of St. John’s Rural West is now in disrepair, because the
Government has failed to do the necessary maintenance work.

According to Symister, the Government cannot continue to function
in this fashion, allowing buildings to become run-down to the point
where workers have to be transferred.

He points to the police stations and several of the clinics around the
island, and even the old Magistrates Court building, and says
Attorney-General Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin must take
responsibility for their condition.

In the meantime, Symister is asking when the community centre will
be turned over to the people, as was the intended plan.