More than JMD$60m was spent by the Government of Jamaica through the Ministry of Justice to repair courthouses across the island between November 2008 and June 2010.
The works ranged from, but were not limited to, the installation of air-conditioning units; the construction of jury and witness boxes; the installation of new windows; tiling; concrete paving; and roof repairs.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Robert Rainford said the repairs to the courthouses are ongoing and the MOJ is doing everything financially possible to keep them all properly maintained for the citizens of our country.
In 2008 some JMD$12.4m was spent on the repairs of a number of courthouses, namely: Port Antonio Resident Magistrates Court (RMC), Lucea RMC, and the Sutton Street Court, while in 2009, major and minor repairs were carried out on 20 buildings across the island at a cost of more than JMD$44m. These include the Supreme Court; the Resident Magistrates Court in: Balaclava, Bown’s Town, Portmore, May Pen, Half Way Tree, Port Antonio, Mandeville, Savana-la-Mar, Montego Bay, St Ann’s Bay, Lionel Town, Linstead, Falmouth, Lucea, Richmond, Chapelton, Old Harbour.
Since the start of the year, 10 courthouses that required major and minor renovations were repaired at a cost of more than JMD$6m.
Presently the New Lucea Family Court is being constructed at a cost of JMD$62m; however the construction is being funded by the European Union under a $1.4billion poverty alleviation programme. Ground was broken for that project on February 18, 2010.
The Minister wishes to assure the public that the improvement and maintainance of the courthouses is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Justice.
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