Back in May, the Ministry of Health had initially blanked the Law Association’s request for an allocation of vaccines to allow the profession to become inoculated against Covid-19. The provision of legal services is an essential service under the public health regulations.
Last month, we finally got the green light to get the jab and many have taken advantage of the opportunity, including myself. That means we’re getting so much closer to resuming our legal practices without restrictions. But we’re not there yet. The country needs to have heard immunity. Approximately 60% to 70% of the adult population needs to be vaccinated for that to happen, according to the Minister of Health.
In line with the profession’s access to vaccines comes pandemic practice direction #18 issued by the Judiciary, (found in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette No. 117 of 2021 – available online). Some of the changes made to court operations, with effect from August 3, 2021 are as follows:
Time resumes for the filing of legal documents. In the pandemic directions issued from mid-May, parties automatically got more time to file documents required to be electronically filed pursuant to a court order or the rules of court. That’s because the period May 17, 2021 to August 3, 2021 was not be counted towards the period when the document must be filed. Parties remained at liberty to file their documents though, despite the cessation of the clock, so to speak. With the latest practice direction, time resumed once more from August 4, 2021 for the filing of legal documents.
Filing fees waived until September 30, 2021. Every time an attorney files a document in a court matter, it normally attracts a filing fee, usually ranging between $10 to $50 per document. Since the pandemic began and electronic filings were introduced, filing fees have been waived. This continues to be the case until September 30, 2021 inclusive. This applies to the Supreme Court (High Court and Court of Appeal); Family Court and Petty Civil Division of the Magistrate’s Court.
Payment of Public Health Fixed Penalty Notices e.g. facemask fines. For Notices issued on or before August 3, 2021 the time for payment of the fines has been extended to December 30, 2021. Nevertheless, the fines can be paid online at any time, using credit or debit cards.
Extension of time for payment of Traffic Tickets issued before May 26, 2020. The Miscellaneous Amendments Act, No. 10 of 2020 allowed citizens who were issued traffic tickets before May 26, 2020 to settle the fine by paying half (50% of the fine). The time to pay these fines has been extended to September 30, 2021. These fines can now also be paid online using debit or credit cards.
All other Fines and Court Ordered Compensation due and owing as at August 3, 2021. Time has been extended for payment of these fines and court ordered compensation payments (excluding maintenance payments) up to December 30, 2021. Nevertheless, the fines can be paid online at any time, using credit or debit cards.
Disclaimer:The contents of this article are for general informative purposes only. It does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader. For legal advice on your specific situation, please contact an Attorney-at-Law of your choosing directly. Liability for any loss or damage of any kind whatsoever allegedly incurred a consequence of using content in this article is thus hereby excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
August Pandemic Developments in T&T Courts
LAWYERS are now able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Back in May, the Ministry of Health had initially blanked the Law Association’s request for an allocation of vaccines to allow the profession to become inoculated against Covid-19. The provision of legal services is an essential service under the public health regulations.
Last month, we finally got the green light to get the jab and many have taken advantage of the opportunity, including myself. That means we’re getting so much closer to resuming our legal practices without restrictions. But we’re not there yet. The country needs to have heard immunity. Approximately 60% to 70% of the adult population needs to be vaccinated for that to happen, according to the Minister of Health.
In line with the profession’s access to vaccines comes pandemic practice direction #18 issued by the Judiciary, (found in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette No. 117 of 2021 – available online). Some of the changes made to court operations, with effect from August 3, 2021 are as follows:
Be safe Trinidad and Tobago.
Copyright © 2021 Neela Ramsundar, LL.B (HONS), L.E.C is a Civil Litigation Attorney at Law & Certified Mediator.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for general informative purposes only. It does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader. For legal advice on your specific situation, please contact an Attorney-at-Law of your choosing directly. Liability for any loss or damage of any kind whatsoever allegedly incurred a consequence of using content in this article is thus hereby excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.