Hanover set to get a standalone justice centre soon

Western Bureau:

Hanover is slated to get a standalone justice centre within a matter of months, which will allow the different departments of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), which now operates out of rented premises, to have a home of their own.

The justice centre will be sited on lands beside the Sandy Bay Primary School, in Sandy Bay, and will be adjacent to the Sandy Bay Post Office. The land, which was recently cleared, is now being fenced to facilitate the start of construction.

Hanover Custos Dr David Stair was elated about the pending construction, noting that the justice centre will assist in the proper dispensation of justice in the parish, through the various arms of the justice ministry.

“Initially, the MOJ was looking if there was any government building within the parish that they could renovate, but there was none, so our justice centre will have to be built from scratch,” said Stair.

“It is something that I think is essential. We are behind a number of parishes, as it is only a couple parishes that do not have such a facility,” said Stair. “I think it is a very good thing. I think it is good to have all the offerings from the ministry in one area, and the convenience will go a far way towards the dispensation of justice.”

The looming start of work on the justice centre could be surprising to residents, despite their intense lobbying, as just over a year ago, during a virtual meeting with custodes and justices of the peace from the parishes of Clarendon and Hanover, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck expressed disappointment that the two parishes did not yet have justice centres.

“It is one of my great disappointments that, up to this moment, I cannot tell you when construction is going to begin, but it is something that I am hoping that within the next few months we can sign off on some architectural drawings,” Chuck had said at the time.

Chuck however stated at the time that funding was in place for both structures, adding that the available land space was also identified in Hanover.

Checks made by The Gleaner have revealed that fully operational justice centres are now in St James and Trelawny in western Jamaica, while partial operations are taking place from rented premises in Westmoreland and Hanover.

A fully operational justice centre entails office spaces for mediation, child diversion, restorative justice, an office for the Custos, and legal aid services.

A well-placed source told The Gleaner that a contract for the construction of the justice centre was signed with the Mandeville, Manchester-based C&D Construction and Engineering Limited, but efforts to contact the company were unsuccessful.

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