THE MINISTRY of Justice said yesterday that stenograph machines have been purchased for the court system and are expected to arrive in the island soon.On Thursday, a shortage of these machines, which are used to take notes of evidence in the Supreme Court, stalled the trial of 37-year-old Paul Gooden who is charged with the murder of his wife, 36-year-old Ingrid Andrade-Gooden.
In a statement yesterday, the ministry apologised for the delay of trials in the Supreme Court because of the absence of these machines. The ministry added that it was told by the sole provider of these machines in the United States, that 42 machines should arrive within two weeks.
"The purchase of this shipment of court reporting machines came as a result of discussions between the ministry, the chief justice of Jamaica and court reporters in the Supreme Court in August this year," the statement said.
"Subsequent to the meeting, when it was brought to the ministry's attention that existing equipment was out of commission, permanent secretary in the ministry of justice, Carol Palmer, advised the Ministry of Finance and Planning of the situation.
The Finance Ministry, in turn, followed up on its commitment and disbursed some $11 million in mid-October, to enable the purchase of the new stenograph machines."
