Hanover to Get New Family Court

Hanover will have a new Family Court building in another seven months, as a plot of land located on Watson Taylor Drive in the town of Lucea was handed over to contractors Thursday (February 4) for construction of the facility.
The construction cost and furnishing of the facility will be underwritten by the European Union (EU) to the tune of some 700 thousand Euros, under its poverty eradication programme number 2, with construction to be carried out by Sharecon Ltd.
Representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the EU, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), the Hanover Parish Council and the contractors were at the site Thursday morning to view and discuss plans for the development.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Robert Rainford, said that his ministry embarked on an initiative in 2009, to develop a sound court infrastructure across the island, and plans to continue it into 2010 and beyond. He said that the building of the Family Court in Lucea was long overdue.
“When we can put our citizens in facilities that are conducive to what they deserve, I believe that we will be seen as the face of Justice”, he stated.
He expressed thanks on behalf of his ministry to the EU and the PIOJ, for their contributions to getting the facility started.
EU representative, Project Manager in the Economic and Social Development Section, Corinne Deleu, pointed out that the money being provided by her organization is to finance the construction and provide some equipment when the Court is completed.
Senior Project Economist with the PIOJ, Monique Harper-Griffiths, expressed joy at seeing the project reach this stage, as it has been in the pipeline for some time. The groundbreaking is scheduled for February 14.