Dear Member,
Further to our email dated 16th March, 2020 entitled, ‘Postponement of the Annual General Meeting Scheduled for the 20th March, 2020 at 3:00pm,’ please be reminded that the Annual General Meeting has been postponed to a date to be announced. This was necessary due to the serious health threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please be advised that the Council of the LATT intends to furnish you by email with the Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ending 31st January, 2020 for both the Law Association and the Compensation Fund in short order. Additionally, the Secretary’s Report on the Activities related to the 33rd Council of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago 2019-2020 will be shared with members electronically as soon as possible.
By now many of you have received the Practice Direction issued by the Chief Justice in urgent circumstances. We have received numerous queries as to the interpretation of various aspects of the said Practice Direction from our Members. We have also reached out to the Assembly of Southern Lawyers and asked them to provide us with a summary of queries raised by its members. We intend to collate the queries and dispatch them under cover of a letter to the Registrar of the Supreme Court for the attention of the Chief Justice.
I take this opportunity to remind all of you however that the Practice Direction was issued in the face of a pandemic and that the clear objective is to reduce the number of persons in the Courts, including the Registries, whilst preserving access to justice. In this regard I urge all Attorneys-at-Law, as Officers of the Court, to co-operate with each other and to reach agreement where necessary and so far as possible to promote good relations and to reduce the burden on the Judiciary at this time.
Please take all necessary precautions to safeguard your health and I urge you to make appropriate arrangements for your staff and your clients. On behalf of the Council of the Law Association I assure you that we are doing our best to fulfil our mandate and we ask that you assist us with your understanding and patience.
Sincerely,
Douglas Mendes SC
President
Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago