Chuck reiterates plan for new Mandeville courthouse
MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck has reiterated his vision of building a new courthouse for Mandeville, and is hoping that plans already made will facilitate its construction.
“I am going to ask the justices of the peace to assist when, hopefully this year, we want to build a court[house] in Brumalia, and I am hoping it will be not only iconic, but it will be a five-star, firstclass court,” he said recently, at Church Teachers’ College (CTC) in Mandeville.
Chuck, in addressing the inaugural Manchester Justice of the Peace Association banquet and awards ceremony at the college, which was organised by Custos of Manchester Garfield Green, said, the courthouse, however, “might not be built immediately”.
“But we want the advertisement inviting developers to participate in a public private sector partnership. The plans are well on the way and we hope the advertisement could be before the end of 2023,” said the justice minister.
He encouraged JPS to think on a large scale with grand ideas for the courthouse.
“I am making this point because, as minister, I have to start thinking big, and I am going to invite the JPS to also think big; if we are going to build a court in Brumalia, it has to be a court that will last for 100 and more years and will reflect the quality and size of the thinking of Manchester,” said Chuck.
Long considered inadequate for rapidly escalating court requirements and in urgent need of replacement, the more than 200-year-old Mandeville courthouse was damaged by fire on November 7, 2019.
In early 2020, lands were acquired for the construction of the new courthouse on Brumalia Road, off Caledonia Road, a few 100 metres north of the old courthouse.
Soil testing was done at the location, adjacent to the Southern Regional Health Authority’s office in August 2020.
The old courthouse which now houses the Family Court was commissioned for that purpose in December 2021.
The fire at the old courthouse had forced the relocation of the Parish Court to the James Warehouse Plaza, close to the centre of Mandeville.
Sensitive issues relating to privacy and safety have arisen since court matters were shifted to the plaza, which houses the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) and commercial operations.
Licensed firearm holders, in particular, have voiced concern at having to visit the FLA offices in full view of people who are before the courts on criminal charges.