• Category

  • Content Type

Advertisement

Over $190M Spent to Upgrade Courts

By: , May 3, 2017

The Key Point:

The Government spent more than $192 million to upgrade courthouses during the 2016/17 fiscal year
Over $190M Spent to Upgrade Courts
Photo: Donald De La Haye
In this file photo, Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck (left), and Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Sylvain Fabí, discuss some of the features of one of the newly designated courtrooms for criminal case trials at the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston, during a tour of the facility on November 1 last year.

The Facts

  • This was disclosed by Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, during his 2017/18 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 2.
  • Mr. Chuck told the House that the parish courts serving Black River and Santa Cruz in St. Elizabeth have been installed with devices and other features to accommodate the physically challenged.

The Full Story

The Government spent more than $192 million to upgrade courthouses during the 2016/17 fiscal year

Additionally, the Administration received $20 million in funding support from the United States Embassy in Jamaica, which facilitated the installation of air-conditioning units and provision of computers at several courts.

This was disclosed by Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, during his 2017/18 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 2.

Mr. Chuck advised that the Coroner’s Court on Maxfield Avenue in Kingston was undergoing repairs and would reopen shortly.

Additionally, the Minister said expansion of the Court of Appeal would commence soon and was slated for completion during the current fiscal year.

He indicated that the upgraded facility would accommodate at least 12 judges, while assuring that efforts would continue to create more courtroom space as well as strengthen the prosecutorial arm of the justice system.

Mr. Chuck told the House that the parish courts serving Black River and Santa Cruz in St. Elizabeth have been installed with devices and other features to accommodate the physically challenged.

The Minister informed that 78 court buildings would be outfitted with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and facilities to enable digital recording of evidence through a European Union-supported project.

Mr. Chuck also advised that the Jury Management System’s development has been completed and that the feature is being tested in the Supreme Court.

The system will facilitate automated jury selection and the electronic generation of summons.

The Minister further advised that $170 million was spent last year to purchase new vehicles for judges.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chuck said Cabinet has signed off on recommendations submitted by the Independent Commission of the Judiciary.

Last Updated: May 3, 2017

Skip to content