KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chief Justice, Zaila McCalla yesterday announced that a special courtroom at the Supreme Court has been assigned to hear matters related to sexual offences.

According to a release from the Court Management Services, the chief justice agreed to designate the special courtroom after the alarming figures presented by Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn, who indicated a significant increase in those matters.

The announcement was made at the opening of the Hilary Term of the Home Circuit Court. Of the 939 cases set for trial this term, 419 of them are for sexual offences.

The assignment of a special courtroom is among several initiatives aimed at reducing the inventory of cases before the court. The chief justice also spoke about an additional courtroom in St Catherine to hear circuit court matters; extended circuit courts in some parishes, and sentence reduction days.

McCalla reiterated that all participants in the justice system have a duty to continue to work assiduously to improve the courts, and to inspire trust and confidence in the process.