Dennise Williams, Staff Reporter
Michael Lee Chin (centre), chairman of National Commercial Bank, in discussion with A.J. Nicholson (left), Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Carol Palmer, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice. They were attending the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Port Antonio courthouse at Boundbrook, Portland, on Wednesday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
IT IS no secret that chairman of the National Commercial Bank Michael Lee Chin is from Portland and that he has grand visions for his home parish. It is also no secret that he finds the decay and lack of development in Portland to be a "disgrace."
And so he decided to do something about it. On Wednesday, NCB in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, broke ground on the new Port Antonio courthouse in Boundbrook.
The complex will house a state-of-the-art electronic security system, audio-visual support, digitally-assisted management systems, as well as multiple courtrooms.
In total, NCB will bankroll the new building to the tune of $247 million.
But, like any good businessman, Mr. Lee Chin also gets something out of the deal.
In a classic case of quid pro quo, the old Port Antonio Court House built in 1895 of cut stone in the Georgian manner will become a new NCB parish branch.
This restoration will cost $120 million.
While typical new branch costs $80 million to build, Mr. Lee Chin defends the expenditure. "We think that the benefits will be intangible but there are some tangible benefits."
It can serve as a catalyst to development in the region and be an inspiration to Portlanders. This can give confidence to others and so attract other investors. It will also serve to encourage the twinning of private enterprise and government.
Government officials are sensitive to criticism that they are giving away the nation's history. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Carol Palmer, said those who are nostalgic should be, "happy with the new renovated NCB branch."
Demands on the court outstrip the capabilities of the current facilities. It was built in 1895 when about four matters where heard per month, Mrs. Palmer said, "so the justice system welcomes the new facilities."
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, A.J. Nicholson said:
"This venture, then, constitutes the kind of partnership that is of paramount importance in the creation of the development tools which are required for Jamaica to become a more humane and progressive society."
In essence, all parties agreeing that this venture will be a win-win situation, characterised the day.
The entire project is slated to take 12 months to be completed.
