$43 million project to upgrade St Catherine Parish Court to begin soon
Published:Thursday | July 19, 2018 | 12:00 AMJason Cross/Gleaner Writer
The Ministry of Justice this week hosted its first quarterly press briefing for this fiscal year at its Constant Spring Road Head offices in St Andrew, with the occasion also serving as a contract-signing ceremony for the refurbishment of the St Catherine Parish Court in Spanish Town.
Permanent Secretary Carol Palmer told journalists that the project, worth $43 million, will ensure more comfortable conditions for everyone who uses the court.
"If you are familiar with the Spanish Town court, there is a lot of sun that goes into some areas of that building, and so [fixing] windows will be part of the work to make it more comfortable for all users of the court," Palmer said.
The project entails major refurbishing of floors and the upgrading of plumbing and electrical fixtures.
"The improvement of the built environment for the justice sector is inextricably linked to other reform objectives, including the reduction of case backlog," Palmer noted.
She added: "In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, we spent $692 million to construct, rehabilitate, and refurbish 88 justice institutions. In the 2016-2017 fiscal year, we are almost at $1 billion. This kind of spend over three fiscal years tells a compelling story of commitment that is demonstrated in improving the justice system."