CONSTRUCTION of the $10.2-million Petty Sessions Court in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, should start this Sunday, according to Carol Palmer, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice.

She was speaking yesterday from the ministry’s Oxford Road offices at the contract signing between the Justice Ministry and A1 Construction Company Limited, which is to effect the work.

The building will be constructed on the premises housing the current Resident Magistrate’s court and the police station, and work is expected to run for four months.

Yesterday’s contract signing also saw the inking of a $16.4-million deal with Comfortair Engineering Limited for the installation of two elevators at the St Elizabeth Supreme Court.

“The signing of these two contracts today. is clear evidence of the commitment of the Ministry of Justice to enhance the facilities that are dedicated to the dispensing of justice in courts,” Palmer said.

The work is part of the Justice System Reform – a drive to improve the island’s justice system – and also include the upgrade of other court buildings and new construction at an estimated $1 billion, Palmer said.

Some of the new construction will include new Corporate Area Traffic and Coroner’s Courts on East Street, Kingston, opposite the Resident Magistrate’s Court (Civil Division); a new courthouse in Morant Bay; a new Family Court in Lucea and a regional judicial complex in Manchester.

Palmer also said the construction of the Port Antonio courthouse should be completed by November.