PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson yesterday announced the construction and repair of several courthouses to enhance the reform of the island's justice
system.
He said the reform programme will include the rehabilitation of the office of the director of public prosecutions, the criminal registry of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and nine additional resident magistrates' (RM) courts.
"This will complete the first step in having the records of the courts stored in electronic format and provide the basis for improved security of court records and efficiency of the justice system," he said, while delivering his 14th consecutive contribution to the Budget Debate in the House of Repre-sentatives yesterday.
A new RM court will be constructed in Port Antonio, and a new family court in Hanover. New court offices will also be constructed in Spanish Town, so too a new building in Mandeville that will include facilities for the second regional gun court.
"This court will allow for cases to be dealt with within two weeks of arrest as currently obtains in the Western Regional Gun Court," the Prime Minister said.
SIX COURTS TO BE REPAIRED
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said six courts are also slated to be repaired. These are the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal (including the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions), the May Pen, Ulster Spring, Montego Bay and Clarks Town RM courts.
Regarding the training of court reporters, the Prime Minister said 24 were now in training and are expected to complete the programme in September next year.
Mr. Patterson said the successful completion of the training will signal the introduction of court reporting in RM courts, to facilitate the full automation of the justice system by 2007/2008.
