Westmoreland Lawyers Press Government to Restore Parish Court

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica - Attorneys practising in Westmoreland are raising alarm after reports that the Government may be revisiting its commitment to repair and restore the Westmoreland Parish Court.

In a statement issued Friday, the lawyers said court operations in the parish have remained severely disrupted since Hurricane Melissa struck in October last year. They noted that Circuit Court matters have been shifted to Hanover, while Parish Court business in Westmoreland is being handled from unsuitable accommodation in Whithorn.

“This is no longer a matter of inconvenience. It is a matter of access to justice and public confidence in the administration of justice,” the release stated. The attorneys said the temporary arrangements have left courtrooms packed beyond comfort, with too little space for the number and type of matters before the court. They added that sittings regularly run late, sometimes to 9:00 pm or beyond for some court staff.

The group said the greatest worry is that many Parish Court cases have, in practical terms, not proceeded to trial since the hurricane, allowing the case backlog to keep increasing.

They also pointed to the strain on residents who must use the courts. “Many have to travel outside the parish at additional expense, lose workdays, arrange childcare and incur costs they cannot afford simply to access the courts,” the attorneys said. They added: “Justice should be not a privilege for only those who can afford it. When access to the courts is compromised, the most vulnerable are neglected.”

Jurors, the lawyers said, are facing similar hardship, with some required to attend court outside Westmoreland at their own cost while waiting to find out whether they will be selected. The attorneys argued that people carrying out such an important civic obligation should not be left to absorb those expenses.

The release further said lawyers are losing hours travelling beyond the parish to appear for clients, cutting into the time available to prepare cases and serve those they represent.

“The people of Westmoreland deserve a justice system that is accessible, efficient, and dignified,” the attorneys appealed. “We therefore urge the relevant authorities to prioritise the restoration of the Westmoreland Parish Court and provide clear timelines for its return.”