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Three Additional Courtrooms Open At Justice Square

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KINGSTON, Sept. 16 (Jamaica Informaton Service): Three additional courtrooms have been provided at the Supreme Court on King Street in downtown Kingston, increasing the number to 15.

They are located on the adjacent building at the intersection of King and Barry Streets, which formerly housed a branch of the National Commercial Bank (NCB).

The building was acquired and is being refurbished by the Ministry of Justice, under its multi-million dollar Justice Square Project, incorporating further development of the area in the Supreme Court’s immediate precincts.
The new courtrooms are currently being used for the 2014 Michaelmas Term of the Home Circuit Court. Work to develop the remaining four courtrooms is currently underway.

In her address at the start of the Michaelmas Term, today (September 16), Chief Justice, Hon. Zaila McCalla, said the new facilities will go a far way in resolving space constraints at the Supreme Court.

She pointed out that the Supreme Court’s administration no longer has to resort to alternatives, such as using the caucus rooms at the Jamaica Conference Centre, on Duke Street, for trial sittings.

The Chief Justice expressed the hope that the remaining courtrooms and supporting facilities will be completed in short order.

Meanwhile, the number of cases listed for trial during the Michaelmas Term, which lasts from September to December, has decreased by 14.06 per cent, compared to the similar period last year.

A breakdown of the list provided by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for this year shows 507 cases down for trial, as against 590 at the start of the 2013 session.

Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Kathy Pyke, who gave a breakdown, said the majority of the cases for the Michaelmas Term comprise the 483 brought forward from the Easter session, with 24 new committals to bring the total to 507.

Mrs. McCalla said despite the relatively high number of cases listed, “valiant efforts” and have been and will be made to reduce the number of cases.

She appealed for the commitment and cooperation of judges, attorneys, and the police to ensure that cases, particularly criminal matters which dominate the list, are thoroughly investigated and prepared, and appropriately presided over to ensure that justice of the highest standard is dispensed.

The Chief Justice implored persons summoned to serve as jurors to respond accordingly to ensure that the judicial process is not stalled.

She also urged employers to facilitate their staff with the time to serve, once they have expressed a willingness to do so. The Chief Justice also thanked those persons who have served as jurors.

Also attending the ceremony were Custos of Kingston, Hon. Steadman Fuller; Custos of St. Andrew, Hon. Marigold Harding; and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Area Four Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Mortimer Mullings.

CONTACT: DOUGLAS McINTOSH

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Caribbean News

Millions to come from FSC 

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way.  It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination. 

“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said.  He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar revenue.  Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders. 

“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M.  By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M).  So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.” 

This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors. 

Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again.  Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP.  The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.  

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Caribbean News

Debrief on Haiti Caribbean heads visit 

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there.  There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.  

Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti.  They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world.  The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas. 

CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.

“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation.  The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”

It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place.  Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.

In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,

“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti.  They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”

Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.  

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Caribbean News

New ASHLEY’S LEARNING CENTRE CONCERT

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center.

A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder.  From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships. 

A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’.  The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm

Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP  $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS. 

For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email  EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG 

 

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