Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jul 15, 2025

Halls of Justice Project in final stage of development — Premier

Halls of Justice Project in final stage of development — Premier

Premier Andrew Fahie has said the Halls of Justice building project is in its final stage of development and more meetings are expected to happen for the project shortly.
At a recent press conference, the Premier said he will be making some announcements within the next month to update the public on what is happening.

“There is a lot of technical work that had to be done with that, let me make that extremely clear,” the Premier said.

Fahie also noted COVID-19 heavily impacted the completion of the project and people must take it into consideration.

“Some persons want us to not speak about COVID when we are talking about monies and projects but the truth of the matter is COVID-19 happened and it took us a lot to deviate funds to keep this country running and now we have to start to see the economy bouncing back,” Fahie said.

“It’s not looking at excuses, but it is a fact. We had a time when we had to pay all public officers which is the bulk of the budget and we still had to pay some expenses that we met including lawsuits that we lost in terms of government before my tenure, but we had to pay them now,” the Premier added.

Fahie, who is also the Minister of Finance, said because things are slowly going back to normal, people are naming every project, saying things must be done. However, the Premier reiterated that there were financial challenges his government had to overcome and steer the ‘boat’ through the unprecedented financial waters to restart the economy.

“Remember we had lockdown and businesses weren’t functioning because of this COVID-19 and we navigated that, and we are at a place where we can get more projects done and get things done. Some were deferred, some were delayed so we will not get all that we want to be done as a result,” the Finance Minister said.

In the recent 2022 Standing Finance Committee (SFC) Report, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office Sharleen Dabreo-Lettsome indicated the court needed to be moved from its current location in John’s Hole. Dabreo-Lettsome said the cost of the move would be $108,000 for rent and $60,000 for outfitting.

The design phase of the Magistrate’s Court is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2021 and construction was projected to be completed in 2022. The Halls of Justice Project is being funded under the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan (RRL) from the Caribbean Development Bank, which was secured by the government to assist with the recovery of the territory after Hurricane Irma. The Virgin Islands government as well as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is also helping with the funds.

In his 2020 budget speech, Fahie said the government takes the matter of justice and security very seriously and that the redevelopment of the Magistrate’s Court would be given priority and receive funding in the 2020 budget estimates. The Premier boasted his government would develop a resilient and SMART court facility for Virgin Island. The Magistrate’s Court currently sits in a temporary structure that was built in July 2018.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
×