NOTES FOR ADDRESS
BY
PRIME MINISTER P. J. PATTERSON
AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF
SPANISH TOWN COURT HOUSE
TUESDAY, 1997NOVEMBER 18
This is an occasion long awaited and of immense
pleasure.
I practised my craft here.
The opening of this court house
.
IS another
demonstration of my Administration's commitment
to improving the justice system
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No just and orderly society can be built without a
justice system that is efficient and responsive to
conte1nporary realities.
The process of reforming and modernising any justice
system is, by nature, one that is both constant and yet
gradual.
The reform initiatives, undertaken by this
Administration, have been comprehensive including
the laws and procedure relating to the delivery of
justice. They have also encompassed the physical and
administrative facilities.
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HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
The recently opened the Justice Training Institute
commenced operation in July 1997, offering training
to a wide category of personnel in the justice system
ACCESS TO JUSTICE
• Legal Aid Bill -Arrest to Appeal
• Small Claims Court
• Night Courts -Corporate Area, St James, St
Catherine, Clarendon
• Regional Gun Court to help reduce delay in courts.
Being established in St James, Westmoreland,
Hanover, Trelawny
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• Dispute Resolution -providing mediation skills to
court personnel
• Justices of Peace empowered and trained to preside
over petty sessions court on a more frequent basis -
perhaps daily.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Technology
All courts have con1puters which facilitate the
processing of criminal records. Real Time Computer
has been installed at the Supreme Court/
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A Criminal Justice Research Unit has been
established to collect and analyse data relevant to the
prevention and detection of crime.
PIIYSICAL CONDITIONS
• New Court houses such as Port Maria and Spanish
Town being opened today.
• Refurbishing of the Supreme Court and the
relocation of the Court of Appeal
• The Gun Court is to be relocated soon to the
Supreme Court building which is now being
refurbished to accommodate it.
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rfhe new Spanish Town Court House is built at the
estimated cost of $41.9 M under the Sustainable
Justice Reform Project which is jointly funded by
TJSAID and the Government of Jamaica.
This programme is geared to finance the renovation
and upgrading of court houses which lies at the heart
of the delivery of justice.
In addition to these various areas of reform of the
justice system, the Administration has taken steps to
improve the appellate process to international bodies,
particularly in relation to prisoners on death row.
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Justice delayed is justice denied.
Prisoners ought to be accorded humane treatment -but
they are not the only citizens with rights. So too are
innocent victims and the relatives they leave behind.
The building of prisons is never popular, but there are
problems arising from over crowding which we are
starting to address- hence the decision to replace the
General Penitentiary.
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Drugs and guns continue to be the cause of much of
the crime being experienced locally. The Attorney
General and Minister of Legal Affairs last ·week
signed a hemispheric agreement to stem the flow of
trade in guns and narcotics.
Our court system has to cope decisively with those
who peddle narcotics and seek to enforce their evil
ways through influence
We notice that white collar crimes are on the
increase. The investigative system and the judicial
process must be able to deal effectively with these
sophisticated criminals.
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Every law abiding citizen wishes a safe and secure
society in which to pursue one's life ambition in an
atmosphere of peace and security.
The modernising and reforming of the justice
system is all part of building a quality society. It is a
long process, but we have laid a solid foundation for
the next millennium.
The opening of this court house is another concrete
step in achieving our goal.
It gives me great pleasure to officially declare it open.
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I
andJustict
iffltlll 4lJllltfft6 t£1t£ffijll!t
for the
JPBlll.SJt Jtmt tiltRJlliltJI
15 White Church Street, Spanish Town
Tuesday, November 18, 1997 at 10:00 a.m.
Main Speaker: The Rt. Hon. P.J. Patterson, Q.C., P.C.
Prime Minister of Jamaica
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p R 0 GRAMM E
Welcome/Opening Remarks., .............. Chairman
Hon Gladstone Le,vars
Custos Rotulorum
St. Catherine
Opening Prayer .... ............. ... ................ Rev. John A. Smith
Superintendent
Spanish Town Methodist Church
Greetings ..... ...... ..... ...... ....... .... ... Her Worship The Mayor
Councillor Jennifer Edwards
Mayor of Spanish Tovvn
Greetings ......................................... Hon. Justice Lensley Wolfe, 0 .J.
Chief Justice of Jamaica
Greetings ......................................... Ms. Dorothy Lightbourne
Opposition Spokesperson on
Justice
Remarks and Introduction
of Guest Speaker ......................... Hon. K.D. ~,ight Q.C.
Minister of National Security and
Justice
Main Address ...... .................... Rt. Hon. P.J. Patterson, Q.C., P.C.
PnmP T\,fini(:tP.t' of Tarnair.a
Blessing of Building .......... .... Rev. Canon George Thomas
Rector of the Cathedral Church,
Spanish Town
Vote of Thanks ...................... Mrs. Elaine H. Baker
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of National Security and Justice
NATIONALA1VTHE~I
CUTTLVG OF RIBBON & OPENING OF MAIN DOOR
Rt. Hon. P.J. Patterson, Q.C., P.C.
TOUR OF BUILDING
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NATIONAL ANTHEM
Eternal Father Bless our land
Guide us with Thy Mighty hand
Keep us free from evil powers
Be our light through countless hours
To our leaders, Great Defender,
Grant true wisdom from, above,
Justice, truth be ours forever
Jamaica, Land we love,
Jamaica, Jamaica, famaica Land we iove.
Teach us true respect for all,
Stir response to duty's call,
Strengthen us the weak to cherish,
Give us vision lest we perish,
Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above,
Justice truth be ours forever,
Jamaica Land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica Land we love,
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