Plansare far advanced for the relocation of the St James Family Court from its present crammed space on Kerr Crescent in Montego Bay to more comfortable environs upstairs the Montego Bay Post Office No 1 on Meagre Bay Road in the resort city.

Plans

are far advanced for the relocation of the St James Family Court from its present crammed space on Kerr Crescent in Montego Bay to more comfortable environs upstairs the Montego Bay Post Office No 1 on Meagre Bay Road in the resort city.

“The postmaster general is happy for us (Ministry of Justice) to use the top floor, and we had a tour of upstairs and we reckon that we can put in two family courts with additional rooms for interviewing, counseling, the children meeting their family, playground, etcetera,” Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck told members of the media, following a tour of the facility, which formerly housed a call centre, late Tuesday.

“So the rooms across there will be renovated so_that we have the family court, which, in its present location is quite inappropriate, inadequate, and in fact, uncomfortable for the judges.”

The justice minister further revealed plans to construct a two-storey complex in a space near the post office and the building that houses the St James Parish Court, that will accommodate, among other things, a courtroom. He explained that the courtroom will “also ensure that we can have continuous sitting of the circuit court”.

“At the moment when circuit comes to Montego Bay the main parish court is locked down. We don’t think that that is appropriate,” Chuck declared.

He added that Parliament has approved the first stage of funding in the next Budget for the establishment of the two-storey complex and the renovation of the upstairs of the post office.

“Whatever additional funds that are needed we will put -if the work starts and go fast, in the supplemental (budget) if not, in next year’s budget,” Chuck explained.

The justice minister also disclosed plans to develop a parking lot to facilitate persons who use the court facilities.

“For the persons visiting the courts, we hope to provide additional parking space. We are going to discuss with the library service whether we could renovate across the courthouse, where the library is, so that we can have additional parking space for persons using the courts here,” said Chuck.

He pointed out that the proposed Montego Bay complex and the renovation of the post office projects, are medium term measures, stressing that in the long run there are plans to establish a complex that will serve western Jamaica. He said Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Dr Horace Chang has identified a parcel of land in Bogue to erect that complex, Chuck said.

“The long term projection is to build a western complex. We are trying to identify lands. We have been looking at lands in the Bogue area to build an attractive western complex, but that is a long term plan,” he stated.

He pointed out that the two- storey complex should be ready in two years, while the renovation of the upstairs section of the Montego Bay Post Office No 1 building, which” is an ongoing process that started sometime ago “, should be carried out shortly.

“It is an ongoing process that started sometime ago. Once we make a decision, and to be frank from our end, we are determined, so that is why we put it in the budget. Minister Chang and I have been in discussion and the permanent secretary has been in discussions with the post master general,” Chuck said.