GOVERNMENT has purchased the National Commercial Bank’s (NCB) building at King Street in downtown Kingston, to facilitate the creation of ‘Justice Square’.

According to a release issued yesterday by the Ministry of Justice, Justice Square will accommodate the expansion of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

It will also facilitate offices for the newly created Court Management Service (CMS), which will give the Chief Justice autonomy in the management of the courts.

The acquisition of this property, at a cost of $128 million, the release said, is part of the Ministry of Justice’s thrust to achieve its strategic priorities outlined by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Senator Dorothy Lightbourne.

“These priorities include fair and timely case resolution, establishment of a sound court infrastructure and strengthening public trust and confidence in the Justice system,” the release stated.

According to Ferris Ziadie, chairman of the Ministry of Justice’s National Courts Implementation Committee (NCIC), the purchase price of the building included land, building, fixtures, a standby generator and a parking lot located on Church Street.

Ziadie said architects have been commissioned and were doing preliminary drawings.

The NCIC chairman said the sale agreement was concluded and the cheque was presented to NCB for the transfer to take effect.

Meanwhile, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Robert Rainford thanked Minister of Finance Audley Shaw, Financial Secretary Sharon Crooks and her team, the Accountant General, Millicent Hughes, Auditor General Pamela Monroe-Ellis, Ziadie and the staff of the justice ministry, as well as the Attorney General’s Chambers for their co-operation in making the acquisition a success.

He said the partnership demonstrated what can be achieved when stakeholders work together.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Justice said it is planning to establish six parish judicial complexes in Morant Bay, Port Maria, Falmouth, Spanish Town, Portmore, and Black River.

Plans are ongoing for the establishment of three regional judicial complexes.

The Montego Bay complex will serve the parishes of Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland, while that in Mandeville will serve St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon. The St Ann’s Bay complex will serve the parishes of St Ann, St Mary and Portland.

“Negotiation has started for a site in Montego Bay, while lands have been identified at the Heritage Site in St Ann’s Bay for the St Ann complex. Discussions for the Mandeville complex are proceeding,” according to the ministry’s press release.