The Government of Jamaica achieved a historic milestone with the opening of the country’s first purpose-built Forensic Pathology Autopsy Suite at 149 Orange Street, Kingston, on Thursday.

This $679 million investment by the government through the Ministry of National Security symbolises that for the first time since the 1970s, Jamaica has a national public facility dedicated to conducting medico-legal autopsies. It is equipped with world-class technology, multiple dissecting bays, advanced laboratories, an X-ray room, and storage for up to 150 bodies.

While speaking at the official opening ceremony, Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang said this state-of-the-art project is a historic milestone not only in terms of physical infrastructure but in the enhancement of the government and security forces’ national capacity to deliver justice, uphold the rule of law, and secure the safety of the people. “May this prestigious service purpose with excellence and integrity for generations to come,” Chang said.

He also boasts the completion of the Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine in Jamaica, which is a forensic legal institute that can provide exposure and training to all Caribbean nationals.

Chang noted that the Forensic Pathology Autopsy Suite will allow Jamaica to have the finest forensic facility in the region and the Western Hemisphere.

“Postmortem will be conducted seven days a week in the facility… The JCF plans to use this facility as part of our strategic homicide reduction plan. This facility will allow us to close cases faster, conduct speedier investigations, conclusively identify the cause of death and suspects, and find means for us to improve clear-up rates, speedier trials and more convictions in the courts, leading to more guilty offenders placed behind bars in correctional facilities and an overall reduction in crime.

“The shift towards a more crime-free society is happening; it’s happening now, and a facility like this will help to keep it sustained. We consider ourselves a major link in the crime-fighting and crime-prevention apparatus of the state. We are truly delighted for this day,” he added.

VIDEO