Design work for the construction of a new court house in St. Aann is set to begin this fiscal year, as part of a comprehensive programme to build out new justice facilities to meet the demand of the Jamaican people.
This disclosure was made by Justice Minister Delroy Chuck at a recent retreat of the judiciary at the Terra Nova Hotel in St. Andrew.
The minister further disclosed that there are plans to begin construction of a new court in Mandeville, Manchester, and another in St. James in the 2020/ 2021 financial year, pending the identification of suitable lands for the facilities.
All of this is part of a detailed construction programme to have new court houses ready to deliver quality justice services over the course of the next 5 years.
Chuck was resolute that he is in solidarity with Chief Justice Bryan Sykes to make the Jamaican court system the best in the region in 3 years, and one of the best in the world in 6 years.
To this end he encouraged judges and court administrators to disclose any defects in the courts infrastructure, and malfunctioning of equipment to the staff of the court management services, so that they can be urgently addressed, either by that body or by the ministry.
Meantime, Permanent Secretary in the Justice Ministry Sancia Bennett Templer underscored the importance of the partnership between the ministry and the Court Management Services to build appropriate court infrastructure that meets the needs of all court users, including the disabled.
Bennett Templer highlighted that, in providing the necessary support to the CMS, a steering committee, comprising members of the judiciary and the CMS will work along with the ministry’s technical team to develop the working requirements for the courts.
In giving an update on justice related services, Bennett Templer said 12 child diversion centres will be established by the end of the 2019/ 2020 fiscal year.
These centres will support the rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law, by diverting them from the formal justice system.