Just Get it Done! Bar Association Wants Action on Halls of Justice

The Saint Lucia Bar Association is calling for progress on the long-delayed Halls of Justice project, saying that it is critical for both legal professionals and the public.

In an interview with the St Lucia Times, Ramon Raveneau, president of the Bar Association, voiced full support for the proposed project, stressing the need for improved facilities to strengthen the country’s justice system. He pointed out that the current makeshift courtrooms in rented spaces are far from ideal.

“The public needs a better space that is comfortable, comfortable seating and where the officers can carry out their duties effectively,” Raveneau said. He added that the existing arrangements not only affect lawyers but also hinder the efficient delivery of justice.

According to Raveneau, constructing a proper Halls of Justice is essential for fulfilling the constitutional mandate of the High Court. “Saint Lucia and its citizens need a Halls of Justice because the Constitution states that the High Court shall have originating jurisdiction over certain matters, and there needs to be a space where that can be executed efficiently,” he stated.

While Raveneau acknowledged that the Bar Association would prefer the location to be in the capital, close to major businesses and government services, he said the priority is simply to move the project forward.

“What is even more important is just to get it done,” he said.

The proposal for a Halls of Justice is not a new one. In 2003, alongside the construction of the Bordelais Correctional Facility, plans for a new justice building were first put forward. Despite various proposals and political changes over the years, progress has been slow.

Former Prime Minister Allen Chastanet’s administration proposed a plan in 2020 that included integrating the police headquarters, citing mould-infested, poorly furnished buildings that were unfit for basic operations. However, the United Workers Party administration’s plan faced opposition and legal hurdles—an injunction on one proposed site and resistance to another at Barnard’s Hill, home to the National Cultural Centre, from figures in the creative and cultural sectors.

Plans to demolish the old courthouse building in the city and other buildings to create open green spaces also met objections from the then-opposition Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP).

Fast forward to 2024, under the leadership of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, and the focus shifted to revitalising the old courthouse and Ministry of Education buildings, with a new Build Own Lease Transfer (BOLT) agreement. The contract was awarded to Trinidadian company NH, with the project estimated to cost US$53 million (EC$143 million) for construction and a total investment of US$61 million (EC$164.7 million). However, the BOLT model and high costs have been met with criticism, notably from Chastanet, who called the construction price exorbitant.

Despite these challenges, the project moved forward with a sod-turning ceremony in April 2024. Initially slated for completion in two years, the project remains a work in progress, and debates continue, particularly after concerns were raised by the Catholic Church regarding the impact of the building’s size on the historic Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

In response to these concerns, civil engineer John Peters clarified last week that the church’s issue was with the original design’s size, not the entire project. The plans have since been revised to reserve adjacent green space.

Last week, Housing Minister Richard Frederick and Prime Minister Pierre confirmed the changes.