Gov't moving to upgrade courthouses

   

Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke says the government has been working to remodel and upgrade courthouses across the island through public private partnerships.

 

He was responding to the call by Chief Justice Bryan Sykes for Parliament to give the judiciary direct oversight of its expenditure.

 

The judiciary, through the Court Administration Division, receives a budget from the Ministry of Justice to maintain court buildings.

 

But the Chief Justice says the funds are insufficient amid growing complaints about the conditions of some of the 60 courthouses.

 

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Dr. Clarke said the government is cognisant of the status of court buildings.

 

He said all budgetary requests made for the improvement of the spaces will be honoured.

 

"In light of what is the headline in the [news]paper, it's important that the paper and the people also know the work that is under way," said in reference to a Gleaner story highlighting the concerns of the Chief Justice. 

 

"So when that came to my attention... we immediately got to work. And I wanted to say it to the Chief Justice, and to the Minister of Justice. And I dare to speak for the future, to say any capital project that has gone through the necessary approval, that are brought for the funding of new courthouses, this government will fund," he pledged. 

 

Dr. Clarke also provided an update on new judicial court complexes under development in Manchester, St. Catherine, St. Ann and Trelawny.

 

"With the Manchester Regional Judicial Complex, transaction advisors have already been engaged, architects have already been engaged, and the design is being updated. But it's not limited to Manchester, Mr. Speaker. We also have similar processes for the St. Ann and the St. Catherine Regional Judicial Court complexes, and the Trelawny Judicial Court complex, Mr. Speaker. The terms of reference were approved in October, and the funding for a transaction advisor has been identified, and DBJ (Development Bank of Jamaica) is about to search for and engage a transaction advisor for that," he said.