A walk through Central Castries will reveal a towering structure which has garnered much concern from the general public.
A gigantic crane, part of the NH International construction site, was erected recently to aid the construction of the much talked about $143 Million Halls of Justice.
NH International officials last week spoke on the project in an attempt to correct misinformation concerning the massive facility.
Nevillon Bartholomew, HSE Officer, outlined NH International’s three guiding commitments: Zero Harm, Sustainability, and Excellence through Improvement. These, he said, are being embedded through worker training, rigorous risk assessments, and a culture of shared responsibility across the team.
“We are very mindful that this project is unfolding in the heart of Castries, surrounded by homes, businesses, schools, and institutions,” said Rishi Koonoo, Project Manager. “That is why we are placing strong emphasis on consultation, cooperation, and an open channel for grievances.” Koonoo went on to elaborate, speaking specifically about the crane. “It’s a very safe and secure, structurally sound foundation that the crane is erected on. There will be a safety measure of two men with wireless communication from the top to the ground and they will be directing the material movement from point A to either one of the sites.”
Securing the crane required the drilling of piles upwards of 23m deep.
The Halls of Justice is a 110,000 square feet facility which is designed to accommodate a total 14 courts along with accommodation for 18 judicial officers, 9 judges and 9 magistrates.
The two building setup will be joined by a sky bridge. Other facilities include space for the Bar Association Secretariat, a lawyer’s lounge, provision for computer-aided transcription, and a coffee shop.
The designed is said to be of the highest resilience standards and is expected to be able to withstand Category 5 hurricanes and major earthquakes.