The Government has successfully completed the purchase of the National Commercial Bank's (NCB) King Street, downtown Kingston, building at a cost of $128 million which will facilitate the creation of Justice Square.

Justice Square will accommodate the expansion of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, while facilitating offices for the newly created Court Management Service (CMS). CMS will give the chief justice autonomy in the management of the courts.

The acquisition of this property is part of the justice ministry's thrust to achieve its strategic priorities outlined by Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne.

These priorities include fair and timely case resolution, establishment of a sound court infrastructure and strengthening public trust and confidence in the justice system.

Preliminary drawings

According to Ferris Ziadie, chairman of the justice ministry's National Courts Implementation Committee (NCIC), the purchase price of the building includes land, building, fixtures, a standby generator and a parking lot located on Church Street.

Ziadie said architects have been commissioned and are currently in the field doing preliminary drawings.

The NCIC chairman noted that the sale agreement was concluded and the cheque was presented to NCB for the transfer to take effect.

Meanwhile, the ministry has revealed that it plans to establish six parish judicial complexes in Morant Bay, Port Maria, Falmouth, Spanish Town, Portmore and Black River.

Plans are ongoing for the establishment of three regional judicial complexes. The Montego Bay complex will serve the parishes of Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

The Mandeville Regional Judicial Complex will serve St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon while the St Ann's Bay complex is to serve St Ann, St Mary and Portland.