Justice Minister reiterates plan for new Mandeville courthouse, calls for public-private partnership
Mikala Johnson / Our Today
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has once again shared his plan of erecting a courthouse in the parish of Manchester, with hopes of constructing a state-of-the-art facility.
“I am going to ask the Justices of the Peace to assist when hopefully this year, we want to build a court in Brumalia and I am hoping it will be not only iconic, but it will be a five-star, first-class court,” the minister said.
Chuck was speaking at the Manchester Justice of the Peace Association banquet and awards ceremony at the Church Teachers’ College in Mandeville recently. The event was organised by Custos of Manchester Garfield Green.
In making his address at the inaugural event the minister noted that the plans might not be executed immediately.
“It might not be built immediately but we want the advertisement inviting developers to participate in a public-private-sector partnership. The plans are well on the way, and I hope the advertisement could be before the end of 2023,” he argued.
Chuck used the opportunity to encourage the Justices of the Peace to be creative and think of grand ideas for the courthouse.
“I am making this point because, as minister, I have to start thinking big and I am going to invite the JPs to also think big. If we are going to build a [courthouse] in Brumalia it has to be a court that will last for 100 and more years and will reflect the quality and size thinking of Manchester,” the minister said.
The over 200-year-old Mandeville courthouse, which had been deemed inadequate and in urgent need of replacement, was damaged by fire on November 7, 2019.
The parish court’s administrative staff was relocated to an office near the tax office at the James Warehouse Plaza, close to the centre of Mandeville as a result of the fire.
In early 2020, it was announced that lands were acquired for the construction of the new courthouse on Brumalia Road, off Caledonia Road, a few 100 metres north of the old courthouse.
While plans for the new courthouse are in the initial stages, the minister is hoping some aspects of the plan will be carried out by the end of the year.
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