The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MUCH needed repair and maintenance work has finally started on the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre following a list of public complaints about the unacceptable condition of the building.

A crew began maintenance work on the weekend, pressure cleaning the thick build up of dirt and mildew from the building.

“Some persons are here now conducting repairs,” a member of the judiciary told The Tribune on Tuesday.

The Garnet Levarity Justice Centre sits on the main thoroughfare in Freeport. It consists of three Magistrates Courts, an Industrial Tribunal, and two Supreme Courts.

Members of the judiciary, including magistrates, prosecutors, court clerks, and lawyers have complained about the unsightly condition of the building. A broken air-conditioning unit in Court Two also made working conditions unbearable for the sitting magistrate and prosecutor. Court One was closed due to bee infestation, and the magistrate has been hearing matters in the Industrial Tribunal.

Last week, Free National Movement Senator Kwasi Thompson blasted the government over the building’s condition during his contribution in the Senate. He called on the government to fix the problems.

A group of lawyers, including Brian Hanna, Simone Brown, LaQuey Laing, and Tiffany Dennison, also complained about the deplorable condition of the building and called on the government to make necessary repairs.

Senior customs officer Ruby Stubbs, of the Bahamas Customs Immigration Allied Workers Union, had also expressed displeasure over the lack of maintenance and neglect of government buildings, including the Supreme Court Building, in Grand Bahama.

Mr Stubbs said it was a shame to see the Supreme Court building, which is designated as a “statue building”, covered in pigeon excrement.

“The building was being neglected and looked like it was falling apart,” he said. “When residents and visitors drive from the international airport, it is the first government building they see.”

“I am happy that work to clean it has started and I can’t wait to see it looking like a Supreme Court building again that we can be proud of,” said Mr Stubbs. He added that he was also pleased that government had started cleaning at the other major government buildings in Freeport.

The mould infestation problem that existed in those buildings, said Mr Stubbs, put the health and safety of civil servants and the public at risk.

A major cleaning and maintenance exercise has also taken place at the new CA Smith Building, the Harold DeGregory Building, and recently at the NIB complex, which was closed for cleaning last week.

Mr Smith said that the government has also promised to put the protocols in place so that there will be monthly inspections of the buildings.

“We want to commend Dr Michael Darville, the minister for Grand Bahama, for taking the step and addressing the issues,” he said.