Registration Department’s Open Day well attended

From all reports, the Open Day hosted by the Registration Department at its White Park Road, St. Michael office was well attended by members of the Barbadian public.

Registrar of the Supreme Court of Barbados, Barbara Cooke-Alleyne registered her delight with the turnout, following the day’s proceedings.

During the Open Day and Health Fair which took place on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., inside the Supreme Court Complex in which the Registration Department is housed, members of the public were given the opportunity to tour the various sections of the Department, such as the Court Process Office, the Records Section, the Court of Appeal Registry as well as High Court Registry and a booth was also set up where persons could enquire about the Community Legal Services, commonly referred to as Legal Aid.

On display also were gowns worn by judges over the years, few wigs previously worn by judges as well, along with a display of equipment used in the Computer-Aided Transcription Unit, when cases are heard. The Open Day also featured blood sugar, cholesterol and diabetes testing, while manicures and pedicures were provided at a reasonable cost, for staff and visitors alike.

“It was well attended,” Barbara Cooke-Alleyne said of the Open Day.

“You would have seen the back in time regalia for the judges as they came through to the 21st century. You would have seen the different wigs. There was one there from an ancient period with a Chief Justice Archer that we didn’t even know existed. So that was good to see, those old pieces coming out. The public came out and enjoyed it,” the registrar commented.

Acting Legal Assistant Julie Vaughn who gave The Barbados Advocate a full tour of the different sections, meanwhile noted that Open Day formed part of the activities being hosted as the Registration Department celebrates 130 years. She too noted that the Department was happy to give back to members of the public.

As part of the celebrations, a Moot Court was held later in the day at the District “A” Magistrates’ Court on Coleridge Street, Bridgetown, St. Michael. The Moot Court featured cases involving a maintenance matter and an assault charge amongst others and Registrar of the Supreme Court, Barbara Cooke-Alleyne, explained that though the cases presented by staff members were treated with an element of humour, the Moot Court served as a way of bringing staff together, while allowing members of the public and law students to see what happens during court and to make an assessment of the right and wrong way of doing things.