$1.5m Tagimoucia Court Complex Opens

The Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, says the new Tagimoucia Court Complex will facilitate the general public’s access to civil judicial services.

The new complex is located at Tagimoucia St along the Queens Rd, and will only handle civil cases. The second High Court complex in Lautoka located along Tavewa Avenue, handles criminal matters.

The $1.5million upgrade took 18 months to complete and comprises two court rooms, a remand facility, with eight to 10 judiciary staff to be stationed there.

On Wednesday, Acting CJ Temo said the court played an important role in presiding over cases in the Western Division.

“When this courthouse was in the process of being built it was originally designed to be a Criminal Court.

“However, through consultation with members of the judiciary, especially the High Court in Lautoka it was decided that we instead open a Civil Court in this piece of land.

“And for that we are thankful to land owners for granting us permission to establish this courthouse here,” he said.

“For the judges of Lautoka, I can see that the two civil judges who are going to first occupy this courthouse, will carry on the good work of serving the people of the West, including Fiji in the dispensation of civil justice.”

He said this would also be the first time in the history of Lautoka where they will have six High Court Judges presiding over matters simultaneously.

“As I’ve said before, the Western Division is the wall that bakes the majority of the economic cake, so, it is only fair and proper that continued support be given to the Lautoka courthouse in the dispensation of Justice, “ he said.

Chief Registrar Timoci Bainivalu said Western Builders Limited was the lead contractor for the project and Maisuria Designs the lead consultants, with funding and planning of the project handled by the Ministry of Finance and Judicial Capital Project team.

Feedback: salote.qalubau@fijisun.com.fj