The construction of the new courthouse complex in Lautoka City will strengthen the services of Fiji’s judicial sector in the Western Division.
This was recently highlighted by the Hon Chief Justice Anthony Gates as he officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the six storey complex that will house 18 court rooms and other facilities including an archives, court registry, remand cells, a media room, a sick bay, a crèche,under-cover parking, a Legal Practitioners Common Room, interview Rooms, standby generator, water storage tanks, solar water heating, audio and video recording in all courtrooms, lifts to all floors, a Juvenile Court, a Tax Court, Family Courts, Employment Relations Court and various registries, chambers, and secretaries rooms.
Justice Gates pointed out that the construction of this courthouse complex would finally bring to end years of struggle for court officials who have often faced challenges because of the challenges of their working space.
“The users of the existing High Court Building at Lautoka have known for many years of its inadequacy for the amount of business to be undertaken at that premises. It is a massive project for Fiji and is likely to cost around F$35 million. So far it is destined to be an infrastructure improvement to be borne by Government alone,” Hon Gates said.
“If the Western Division is to develop economically, financially and in its institutions and services, the justice system within the division must be able to respond to society’s needs. There must be Judges and Magistrates, court staff, court facilities and modern equipment for dealing with litigants’ disputes.
The new complex once completed will have a provision of 18 court rooms and other facilities such as adequate provisions for filing,records, and archives, separated cells for men, women and juveniles, cafeteria with kitchens, a gymnasium, a media room, a sick bay, a crèche, under-cover parking, a Legal Practitioners Common Room, interview Rooms, standby generator, water storage tanks, solar water heating, audio and video recording in all courtrooms, lifts to all floors, a Juvenile Court, a Tax Court, Family Courts, Employment Relations Court and various registries, chambers, and secretaries rooms.
Lautoka City Council Chief executive officer Jone Nakauvadra says, the council was fully supportive of the idea and the renovation works have been long overdue but thanked Government of its vision to strengthen s1ervice delivery mechanisms such as the judicial services around the country.
“The High Court in Lautoka deals with cases from the whole division and it is only fitting that more resources and refurbishment is done to be able to cater for the whole division,” he said.
“There have been a lot of major developments in the western division in the last few years and in Lautoka itself and the new look courts in Lautoka will add to the other projects that are currently underway in the sugar city.”
He added that the development work at the High court would add to the growth of Lautoka and at the same time supplement the infrastructure to ensure that judicial cases are efficient.
Acting Commissioner Western Luke Moroivalu also echoed similar sentiments saying that the projects augurs well with Government’s vision of ensuring better facilities and services to the people which is also stipulated in the Constitution.
“This project is very critical to the services provided by the judicial department especially with the recent economic growth level recorded in the west and projects such as these prove government’s vision towards its people,” Mr Moroivalu said.
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