Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Supreme Court Judge Al-marie Sinclair-Haynes was hopping mad yesterday when she issued a stern warning that, unless suitable accommodation was provided for her, she was not going to preside in the West-moreland Circuit Court.

The judge explained in court that she journeyed from Kingston to Westmoreland Sunday night only to find she had nowhere to stay.

No payment by Ministry

Judge Sinclair-Haynes said when she went to the hotel where she was booked, she was told that the Ministry of Justice had not paid for her accommodation. She said she was told that unless the money was paid in advance she could not stay.

The judge said she left the hotel about 11:45 p.m Sunday and was heading back to Kingston. She said the police in the area managed to get accommodation for her that night at another hotel.

She then warned that if "satisfactory arrangements" were not made for her to stay in the parish, she would not be presiding.

She said she was going to inform Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe of the situation.

The visibly upset judge said she came to the parish with the expectation of having a very productive three weeks and never expected to be treated with such discourtesy and disrespect.

Sympathisers

Several lawyers who were in court sympathised with the judge.

"Ministry officials must act more responsibly," one lawyer remarked.

The Gleaner understands that the management at the hotel where the judge was booked had taken a decision that there must be advance payment because the ministry had owed the hotel money from 2003 which was not paid until 2006.

The ministry later made proper arrangements for the judge's accommodation and so court will continue today.