The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice faced the ire of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee, PAAC Wednesday following the revelation of a J$14 million overrun at the Morant Bay courthouse in St. Thomas.
The courthouse - which was destroyed by fire in 2007 - was originally budgeted to cost J$45 million, but it has been revealed that the design did not provide adequate accommodation for users.
But with the courthouse 90 per cent complete PAAC members blasted the Ministry and those responsible for the construction for a lack of proper planning.
PAAC Chairman, Ed Bartlett, noted that it is an issue that dogs too many government constructions and asked that the Permanent Secretary report back to the committee when the problem has been resolved.
PAAC members also wanted to know why so much money was being spent on a structure that is only expected to be a temporary location for the courthouse.
The ministry explained that the old courthouse will be restored because of its historical significance but that it will take some time.
With the revelation that the interim building has a life span of over 30 years, PAAC members urged the Justice Ministry to ensure there is other commercial use of the building so that the ministry gets back returns on its investment.
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