By the time the new law year starts this September, Grenada’s High Courts will be under one roof, the former LIME building on the Carenage, overlooking the St George’s Harbour.
Government has had to secure new buildings for the courts because the existing buildings are unfit for human activities. A few weeks ago, prior to the rehousing, a number of cases were adjourned in the Number Three High Court without dates for continuation, because there was no adequate building to house its operations. Before the relocation, the Number Three High Court was housed in the Hubbard buildings at the corner of Scott and Young Streets. During a recent news conference Attorney General Cajeton Hood said that owners of the building where the courts have been located needed to repair the buildings, because of hazards to the staff.
Works Minister Gregory Bowen said on Tuesday that utilising the former LIME building will be a phased process, starting with the Number Three Court. Bowen said that though the government is presenting using the building through a long term lease, the intention is to purchase the building to make sure that all the High Courts are operating within the one building.
The High Courts were formerly housed downstairs York House which was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan 10 years ago. Since then, neither the Courts nor the Parliament have a permanent home, with the Trade Center in Grand Anse acting as temporary home for Parliament.
By Linda Straker
