Special Projects Unit
In order to deliver on its promise to the people Trinidad and Tobago to modernise the administrative justice, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has agreed to the construction of four (4) Judicial Centres. The Ministry of Justice will spearhead the construction of these Courts, and a Special Projects Coordinating Unit has been established to oversee this process and ensure the delivery Courts within 33 months.
The Special Projects Coordinating Unit will have responsibility for:
- Project Leadership and Control
- Project Schedule Governance
- Project Cost Governance
- Project Quality Assurance
- Project Completion
In consultation with various stakeholders, which included the Judiciary, the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority, the Probation Services Division, the Forensic Sciences Centre, the Prisons Service, and the Police Services, a court complex concept has been designed and approved by the Government. The complexes will be located at Sangre Grande, Trincity, Carlsen Field and Siparia.
In staying true to the desire Acting Chief Justice Wendell Kangaloo who said in a 2011 address that “The price of crime is the deprivation of liberty not dignity” it is envisioned that the Judicial Complexes will reflect the importance of the justice system to Trinidad and Tobago and maintain the dignity of the Court. The design of the building will also reflect the shift in paradigm from retributive methods of punishment to include restorative techniques for Offender Management. The design solution will also clearly identify and provide ease of access to all users, including ordinary members of the public and the physically challenged. There will be effective incorporation of technology both for security and the functioning of the courts to the extent that all courtrooms will have video conferencing capability. The Court Complex will also incorporate office spaces for the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority and Mediation and Probation Services which can be accessed by members of the public.
