Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
Desmond McKenzie (third from left), Mayor of Kingston, cuts the ribbon to open the new Corporate Area Family Court at Duke Street, Kingston on Wednesday. With him are Alison Anderson (left) CEO of the Child Development Agency, A.J. Nicholson (second left), Attorney-General and Carol Palmer, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice.The new premises replaces the King Street facility which was 30 years old and often cramped for space. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
MINISTER OF Justice and Attorney-General, A.J. Nicholson said there is tremendous amount of progress afoot in his ministry.
While speaking at the opening ceremony for the newly relocated Corporate Area Family Court at Duke in Kingston yesterday, the Attorney-General highlighted the work being done to upgrade court facilities across the island.
Mr. Nicholson said the Ministry of Justice spent over 10 million dollars to refurbish and convert the Corporate Area Family Court. He disclosed that the ministry also managed to improve the conditions at a number of other courts and said rehabilitation work is continuing on others.
"Repair work has been completed on the Corporate Area Court (Civil Division) and the courthouses at Linstead in St. Catherine, Lionel Town in Clarendon, Gordon Town in St. Andrew, Claremont in St. Ann, Sandy Bay in Hanover and Savanna-la-Mar and Whithorn in Westmoreland have benefited from the ongoing improvement exercise since the start of this calendar year," he reported.
WORK IN $MILLIONS
The Justice Minister noted that the value of these works has amounted to 16 million dollars. He said a further six million dollars has been allocated to the rehabilitation of three living quarters for Resident Magistrates in Bluefields in Westmoreland, Montego Bay in St. James and Brown's Town in St. Ann.
"Refurbishing works are underway at the St. Ann's Bay Resident Magistrate's Court. This follows on the installation of security fencing for the Duncans Courthouse in Trelawny," he said.
RELOCATION
Mr. Nicholson noted also that the ministry is presently in negotiations with the owners of property at East Street in Montego Bay for the relocation of the Family Court in St. James and added that there are also plans in the works to build a Family Court in Hanover.
The new home of the Corporate Area Family Court at Duke Street, is a massive three storey facility with a nursery for children and a comfortable waiting room. The court's previous home at King Street in Kingston, will now be occupied by the Ward Theatre Foundation.
