The Ministry of Justice has moved to improve public access to judicial services with the establishment of newly constructed Virtual Access Court Centres at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain.
Minister of Justice and Minister in the Office of the Attorney General, Devesh Maharaj, visited the facilities at Knox Street on Monday, alongside senior officials from the Ministry, including the acting Permanent Secretary, acting Deputy Permanent Secretary and members of the project team.
The tour was facilitated by Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh and senior officials from the Judiciary including Court Executive Administrator Jamie Philbert, and Acting Registrar of the High Court, Kimberly Prescott. According to the Ministry of Justice, this visit underscored an inter-agency approach to reviewing existing challenges and identifying solutions aimed at improving efficiency and strengthening access to justice.
The Virtual Access Court Centres were developed following concerns raised in May 2025 about the conduct of virtual court hearings at police stations and the impact on policing operations. In response, a working group was established in July 2025 to review the process for virtual hearings. The review led to the Judiciary’s creation of dedicated facilities at the Hall of Justice.
During Monday’s visit, officials received an overview of the Centres’ operations, which are designed to provide a secure and accessible alternative location for virtual court proceedings. Discussions focused on the functionality of the Centres, their capacity to accommodate court users, and their role in reducing reliance on police stations for judicial proceedings. Minister Maharaj also participated in a demonstration of a virtual court hearing session, where it was highlighted that the technology employed allows the judicial officer to maintain full control over the proceedings. This includes managing courtroom participation, ensuring orderly conduct and safeguarding the integrity of the judicial process within a virtual environment.
Once operational, these Centres are expected to return critical space at the Besson Street Police Station to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, enabling the continuation of key crime-fighting initiatives, including the conduct of identification parades.