Judiciary Moving to Expand Court Operations in Westmoreland After Hurricane Damage

Efforts are underway to restore and expand court operations in Westmoreland after Hurricane Melissa severely damaged several judicial facilities in the parish last October.

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes announced that repair work is currently in progress at the Family Court, while plans are also advancing to convert another building into a temporary Parish Court location. The initiative is aimed at restoring the parish’s trial capacity and improving access to justice for residents.

According to Sykes, the measures are intended to allow people in Westmoreland to handle their legal matters within the parish rather than travelling to neighbouring Hanover for Circuit Court hearings, which has increased both the cost and inconvenience for litigants.

The Chief Justice made the remarks during a recent forum titled “A Conversation with the Judiciary,” hosted by the Court Administration Division (CAD) at the Summit hotel in St Andrew. The event highlighted developments within the justice system and addressed challenges facing the courts following the hurricane.

Significant destruction was reported across court facilities in western Jamaica during the storm. In Westmoreland, the main courthouse located in Savanna-la-Mar sustained extensive damage and remains out of service.

As a temporary measure, parish, family and civil cases are currently being heard at the Whithorn outstation, while Circuit Court sessions have been transferred to Hanover.

Before Hurricane Melissa struck, Westmoreland operated five courtrooms—three at the Parish Court and one each at the Family Court and the Whithorn facility. The hurricane’s impact reduced that number to just one functioning courtroom, significantly limiting the number of matters that can be heard.

Sykes also pointed to the broader vulnerability of the country’s court infrastructure, noting that nine court facilities are located between 50 and 100 feet from the coastline. He has therefore tasked the CAD with strengthening preparedness to ensure the justice system can remain operational even after a major hurricane.

He indicated that alternative building solutions, including modular structures and container-based facilities, could be considered as part of future planning to maintain court services during emergencies.

The forum served as a strategic engagement between the judiciary’s leadership and stakeholders. Discussions focused on progress in modernising the courts, reducing case backlogs, implementing digital systems, and improving overall service delivery.

Participants were also given the opportunity to examine ongoing reforms and the future direction of the justice system.

The Court Administration Division, which was established in 2009, plays a central role in improving the efficiency of the courts. The body was created to strengthen the administrative framework of the judiciary and enhance its independence, while allowing greater involvement in budget planning and operational decision-making within the court system.