KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Court of Appeal will be closed for the rest of the week following a fire that compromised the electrical infrastructure of the building.

Despite the blaze, no records at the country’s highest court were damaged, the Judiciary says.

The Wednesday morning fire originated at the rear of the premises, located on Peter’s Lane, downtown Kingston, in an area where waste had accumulated. The same area is also known to be frequented by homeless individuals at night.

While the building was spared extensive structural damage, the electrical impairment is of concern, resulting in the closure.

Director of Client Services, Communication and Information, Kadiesh Jarrett Fletcher, explained: “There is damage to the electrical system of the court; however, we want to assure the public and all our stakeholders that the records of the court were not affected by the fire and all remain intact.”

In addition, the Judiciary says it will be engaging the relevant municipal and governmental authorities to urgently address the management of waste in the vicinity of the court and the broader issue of the use of the premises by homeless people.

In the interim, contingency measures have been implemented to minimise disruption to court operations. Hearings and filings will be temporarily redirected as follows:

— Matters previously scheduled to be heard at the Court of Appeal will be accommodated at the Supreme Court Building; and

— All filings ordinarily made at the Court of Appeal are to be submitted at the Civil Registry of the Supreme Court.

At the time of the incident, only two matters were scheduled for hearing, and both have been relocated, the Judiciary said.

It maintained that it “remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety and well-being of its staff, court users and the public, and asks for patience and cooperation as we work expeditiously with the relevant agencies to restore the facility to full operational capacity.”