SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — There may be no saving the Black River courthouse according to Justice Minister Delroy Chuck.

“Unfortunately, we just have to look at Black River; it was significantly damaged. The likelihood is that it will not be rehabilitated,” Chuck told the Jamaica Observer following a tour of Westmoreland and minutes before his tour of St Elizabeth on Friday.

While the Black River courthouse suffered significant damage from Hurricane Melissa, Chuck said other halls of justice within the parish, such as Balaclava and Santa Cruz, are in operation.

In addition to St Elizabeth, Melissa left a trail of devastation in four other parishes. One of these is Westmoreland where the parish and family courts lost their roofs and Withorn courthouse received minor damage.

Meanwhile, circuit courts are being conducted in the Lucea courthouse in Hanover and parish court matters are held approximately three days per week in Withorn, which is about 20 minutes away from Savanna-la-Mar.

“We have no doubt that the people of Westmoreland will continue to get justice services, not only from the courts but also from the justice centre, which is in operation at the old post office in Savanna-la-Mar. In terms of any matter to deal with justice that doesn’t require court operation, the justice centre is in operation. But court matters will be at Withorn and Lucea in Hanover,” stated Chuck.

The minister said the Government is currently working to have the Westmoreland building repaired in the shortest possible time. Chuck said assessments have been done and hopefully, a contractor will be employed soon to be able to replace the roof of the court.

“The resources are available and the key thing is to be able to get a contractor, hopefully under the emergency procurement. If we can get that done shortly, then it will be a matter of months. Hopefully, within the first half of next year for this court to be repaired,” he explained.

He noted that it “is quite a historic building and we are not going to abandon it”.

“It is necessary to ensure that it is properly renovated, improved, and then put back into operation,” Chuck added.

He was unable to provide the total cost to have the roof of the courthouse building in Westmoreland repaired. However, he noted that it is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck speaking with the Jamaica Observer following a tour of courthouses in Westmoreland on Friday.