The Supreme Court in downtown Kingston is suffering from a pest and termite infestation as well as lack of AC in many departments.
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Justice Minister Delroy Chuck
By Halshane Burke
Opposition Spokesperson on Justice Senator Donna Scott Mottley is calling for the government to immediately address the conditions under which the Judiciary and court staff are currently operating.
Senator Scott Mottley says recent reports have highlighted severe deficiencies in the Kinston and St. Andrew Parish Court in Half Way Tree and the St. Catherine Parish Court in Spanish Town.
The bathroom facilities in these courts are said to be unsanitary, posing serious health risks to staff and the public.
Furthermore, she added that the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston is suffering from a pest and termite infestation and many departments and offices within the Supreme Court building are without functional air conditioning, forcing workers to endure long hours in oppressive heat.
Senator Scott Mottley said the judiciary and court staff deserve to work in environments that are safe, sanitary, and conducive to their critical roles in upholding justice.
She said the current state of the country's court facilities is a clear indication of neglect and a lack of commitment from the government towards the justice sector.
She has called for urgent renovation and maintenance of bathroom facilities at the St. Andrew and St. Catherine parish courts, eradication of pest and termite infestations at the Supreme Court and installation of air conditioning units in all departments and offices at the Supreme Court.
CAD's responsibility
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has sought to clarify concerns raised about the maintenance of court facilities.
He was responding to opposition Senator Donna Scott Mottley's call for government to improve the infrastructure of the courts.
The Justice Minister said the responsibility for maintenance resides with the Court Administration Division.
"This law was passed by the previous minister, Mark Golding, who separated maintenance from the MOJ (Ministry of Justice) to the Court Administration Division. So maintenance of the court is basically the responsibility of the Court Administration Division."
Mr. Chuck said the CAD is well-resourced to improve the conditions of the courts.
"They have the money, but it's a question of procurement, procurement, procurement, so that I know that CAD put in a procurement to put in the split unit in the Supreme Court. Now in relation to the sanitary conditions say at Spanish Town, CAD has rented a place from UDC, and they have been harassing UDC to fix
the unsanitary condition in the bathroom. Fortunately, I understand UDC...is like at the end, and we at MOJ may take over that complex and spend some money and fix up the place," he disclosed.
He was speaking Thursday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines.
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