Justice Ministry flags court infrastructure damage, plans new courthouses in west
/ Our Today
administrator
The Ministry of Justice is assessing damage to court facilities caused by Hurricane Melissa, with plans underway for the construction of new courthouses in western parishes that were severely affected.
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, KC, said three parish courts in Westmoreland, St Elizabeth and Trelawny were either totally or substantially damaged by the hurricane, and new facilities will likely be required.
He said the Ministry will work closely with the Chief Justice and the judiciary to identify suitable locations, with funding allocations to be requested once assessments are finalised.
Chuck noted that despite the age of many of Jamaica’s courts, most of which are over a century old, significant investment has been made in recent years. Approximately $743 million was spent on court renovations over the past two financial years.
Courts benefiting from recent upgrades include facilities in Linstead (St Catherine), Cross Keys (Manchester), Clarendon, Bryan’s Bay (Portland) and the St Ann Family Court.
While progress has been made, Chuck acknowledged that maintenance remains a challenge and urged the Court Administration Division to seek adequate funding to meet ongoing repair and equipment needs.
He added that work is already underway on new court facilities in St Thomas, Manchester and St Catherine, as the Government continues efforts to modernise court infrastructure and improve access to justice.
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