Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne identified several deficiencies at the $245-million state-of-the-art courthouse in Bryan's Bay, Portland, during a tour of the facility this week.

Lightbourne complained that the holding area at the facility has no cells to secure prisoners, which could pose security problems for the police.

She said attempts would be made to hold dialogue with the contractors to see how best modification can be applied to alleviate that deficiency and others, including those at the security post and the Resident Magistrate's Court area.

"It is a lovely building," she said. "However, I thought that the design of it, in particular some areas, would have been done in conjunction with the police, especially for the holding areas, which are without cells or security bars."

Efforts to reduce backlogs

The minister also said she had expected to see more courtrooms as the room housing RM sessions would have to be shared with the coroner's court session, which would create further delays while efforts are being made to reduce backlogs.

"We are hoping that the situation can be rectified, so that the RM court can be in session and the coroner's court sitting at the same time," she said. "But one has to understand that this design was done some three years ago before we had moved ahead with the reforms that this administration is moving forward (with) to reduce the backlog in court."

Construction on the courthouse started in July 2006, and was expected to be completed in November last year at a cost of $245 million. During the initial stages of the construction, several delays were encountered, including a stop order issued by the Portland Parish Council for failure to adhere to building regulations.

The contractors have hinted that work is expected to be completed by June of this year. The work is to also include, among other things, the construction of a circuit court area, evidence room, police post, judge's chamber, petty session area, sick bay, clerk of the court office, a bailiff office, accountant office and vault, attorney's interview room, administrative office, public office elevator and a jury room.