Brand New Annex to the Basseterre Court Facilities Completed

Brand New Annex to the Basseterre Court Facilities Completed
Attorney General gives update during 2021 Budget Debate

The long anticipated completion of an annex to the Sir Lee L. Moore Judicial Complex at Independence Square in Basseterre was announced by Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Hon. Vincent Byron on Monday 21st December 2020. He was at the time making his presentation in the National Assembly during the debate on the 2021 Budget.

The High Court Annex was one of two capital projects catered for in the Budget under the umbrella of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs that were highlighted by the Attorney General. The other noteworthy project referred to was the ongoing retrofitting of the former C&C Building which had been earlier purchased by the Federal Government.

This will be brought to a state of readiness in the New Year 2021. In the case of the Court annex, however, the Attorney General was enthusiastic in his proclamation regarding the roll out of this brand new addition to the physical infrastructure of the legal and justice apparatus of the country.

“I want to announce to this Honourable House…this Honourable Parliament [and] the people of St. Kitts and Nevis the completion of the annex at the Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore …Judicial and Legal Services Complex” declared Minister Byron. “I encourage each of you to drive across East Independence Square by the Court House and you will be pleasantly surprised… You’ll be more than pleasantly surprised. You’ll be excited to see a new edifice that …is like a phoenix coming out of the ground that looks like the Court House Building”

He continued, “Over this year (COVID year) contractor Bertil Audain [of] B. C. Audain and Associates has constructed a state of the art building to complement the Court house that has been there over the last twenty…twenty-five years; and this building where the old electoral building was that was flattened has gone up in the air and has gone back over the parking lot…the garage….”

The AG proceeded to elaborate on the proposed utilization of the new building, taking the time to outline its three key functions for the Ministry of Justice and legal Affairs. The following details were revealed:

1. A third Magistrate Court chamber will be located on the ground floor
2. The building will also house a mediation center
3. A state of the art Law Library will be one of the signature aspects of the new facility

According to Minister Byron, the availability of a third Magistrate Court chamber will give rise to the following benefits:

• Providing a dedicated ‘in camera’ facility for matters involving minors and similar matters
• Facilitating the introduction of a night court , enhancing the scope for traffic matters and other matters
• Enabling magistrates to better schedule cases and reduce backlogs

The establishment of the Mediation Centre brings on stream a new thrust in court-connected mediation that will promote more amicable resolution of disputes, avoiding costly and protracted court proceedings. The mediation process will be facilitated by an increased batch of trained mediators who have been brought together within the past year in a program that has the full support of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

The state of the art Law Library is being seen as a jewel in the crown which will have great appeal to the legal fraternity. According to Minister Byron, it will be a significant resource centre that will also be available to all stakeholders, including practitioners, litigants in person, students, and the general public. The library will be equipped with the latest search engines, as well as books and periodicals.

The new annex has the appearance of a smaller version of the larger edifice which presently houses the High Court, the two other chambers of District A Magistrate Court and all of the administrative offices and infrastructure serving them. A date for the official commissioning of the new annex will be set in due course.