KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Justice recently signed two contracts valued at more than $39.3 million that is expected to advance the modernisation of court systems and improve efficiency.

According to a news release from the ministry, one contract for just under $19 million will go toward the procurement of file folders and software for the Supreme Court Registry for its high density filing system.

The release said that the contract requires Tab Products of Canada to procure and deliver 155,000 legal size file folders, file folder clips, self-adhesive grip clips, and 160 labels. One web-based colour labelling software will also be procured, the ministry said, adding that delivery of the items is expected in February, 2017.

The second contract, according to the ministry, is valued at more than $20.4 million and will secure the procurement and installation of a customised legislative production management system and a workflow and file management system.

Inova Solutions Jamaica Ltd was engaged as contractors and is expected to design, install and train users in the system over a period of five months starting December, 2016, the release stated.

The Ministry of Justice said it is implementing a programme of justice sector reform, which includes improving the systems in the courts for the storage and retrieval of files.

Permanent Secretary in the Justice Ministry, Carol Palmer, in commenting on the signed contracts noted that there was a lot of work going on behind the scenes to bring the justice system into the 21st century.

 “We cannot achieve the goal of improving access to justice unless we fix the ‘back room’ operations. Sometimes a lot of emphasis is placed on what is in the public’s gaze but very often an undesirable outcome stems from weak or non-existent systems and the absence of basic items that can have far-reaching implications as far as efficiency and effectiveness is concerned,” she said.