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Magistrate’s Court moving to rented facilities

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that the Magistrate’s Court located at John’s Hole will be moving to rented facilities shortly.

Speaking at a recent press briefing with the media, the Premier noted that the move is to accommodate the Eslyn Henly Richiez Learning Centre.

“As it pertains to Eslyn Henley, the project is ready to go, and they have just been waiting on the Magistrate’s Court to move from the location where they are. As you know, Eslyn Henley and the Magistrate’s Court essentially swapped places,” the Premier said.

“So, where the Magistrate’s Court is [located] is where Eslyn Henley Richiez Centre will go but the Magistrate’s Court is essentially moving to rented facilities. The paperwork has been signed for that already. So, as they switch from where they are…, we will have a ground-breaking for [the new Eslyn Henley Richiez centre] shortly,” Dr Wheatley said.

Meanwhile, in the 2022 Standing Finance Committee (SFC) Report, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office Sharleen Dabreo-Lettsome indicated that the Magistrate’s Court needed to be moved from its current location in John’s Hole.

Dabreo-Lettsome said the cost of the move would be $108,000 for rent and $60,000 for outfitting.

The design phase of the Magistrate’s Court was expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2021 and construction was projected to be completed in 2022.

The Halls of Justice Project is being funded under the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan (RRL) from the Caribbean Development Bank, which the government secured to assist with the recovery of the territory after Hurricane Irma. The Virgin Islands government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are also helping with the funds.

The government is also inviting bids for the contract to construct the new Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre.

The proposed work includes but is not limited to the demolition of the existing structure, site clearance and construction of a new school building.

In a recent release, the government said the project is being funded through the $65 million hurricane rehabilitation and reconstruction loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

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9 Comments

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  1. Hmmn says:

    Where is the location they moving to?

  2. Hmmmmm says:

    Why such an obscure announcement? Don’t you think the citizens might like to know WHERE the court will be FFS???

    Like 12
  3. ..... says:

    Well they said Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre and the Magistrate’s Court have essentially swapped places. Perhaps they are mean to locate the Magistrate’s court in condemned building. Given that the state of administration of justice in the Territory and the general incompetence of the public service, would it really be that far fetched.

    Like 9
    Dislike 1
  4. Jokey says:

    This is crazy. So you mean to tell me that the old building that Irma destroy ain’t fix till now.

  5. 0% says:

    Showande is a c** artist. Why so obscure about the new location where the Magistrate Court is moving to? When it comes out will it be an embarrassment, why the identification is delayed? The COI did not teach this government anything because they are the same wolves in sheep clothing running this clown show.

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  6. Just askin' says:

    Who owns the building that the Magistrate’s Court is moving into?

    Like 13
  7. Rubber Duck says:

    Premises owned by one of the cheese shop rats or their homies.

    Thats what everyone thinks when they keep up this secrecy.

    And everyone may well be right.

  8. answer says:

    Ask Lessmo

  9. No sense says:

    A better solution would be make Station Row the avenue for all of Police station, barracks, HQ, Magistrates and High Court. The shools should be away from the centre/dual carriageway, for example land where Dolphin discovery was. It makes no sense dividing up law enforcement and its a real shame the HQ is in a public square that used to be nice

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