Bridgetown.
Four witnesses give evidence on the first day of the Barbados leg of Caribbean Court of Justice hearing into the case against the Government of Barbados by Jamaican Shanique Myrie yesterday.
The first witness to take the stand was Joseph Johnson, the chief operations officer at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) who was questioned by Nancy Anderson one of Myrie's lawyers on the accuracy of the CCTV footage of the airport's cameras.
She suggested that based on the rotation, there could be gaps in the footage taken. Anderson also sought to suggest that cameras were absent from several key areas at the GIAA.
Johnson acknowledge that there were not surveillance cameras stations in areas such as the dentention cells or the bathrooms.
He suggested that all the cameras mounted were fully functioning during Myrie's arrival and stay at the GAIA.
Acting Comptroller of Customs Frank Holder testified that he told Jamaica's High Commissioner to Barbados, Sharon Saunders, that the cameras were being tested. Under cross examination by Anderson, the acting Comptroller denied that he told Saunders that there were occasions the cameras did not work.
"I did not tell her the cameras only work sometimes. I told her I was not sure if they were functioning. I also told her they were being tested", Holder said.
The acting Customs boss said he and the High Commissioner had that conversation after a request was made for surveillance footage. According to Holder, copies of the footage were not given to a Jamaican contingent which was investigating Myrie's claims.
Holder said copies of the surveillance footage were given to him in a sealed envelope which was handed over to Sergeant Vernon Farrell of the Royal Barbados Police Force.
Ian Best the system manager at the GAIA and Sergant Farrell were the other witnesses who give evidence.
The hearing which is being held in the Number One Supreme Court attracted a large number of spectators. It will continue this morning at 9.a.m
