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A fire overnight damaged part of the newly renovated Court of Appeal building in downtown Kingston, disrupting operations for stakeholders.

The administrative arm of the judiciary confirmed that a comprehensive assessment of the damage is currently under way, but said preliminary findings indicate that the fire did not cause extensive structural damage.

Kadiesh Jarrett Fletcher, director of client services, communication and information, indicated, too, that "the records of the court were not affected by the fire and all remain intact".

However, Jarrett Fletcher confirmed that the fire caused damage to the electrical system at the $846-million building, which was reopened in December 2018 after extensive renovations.

The building has been closed to the public for the remainder of the week.

Jarrett Fletcher said initial reports confirm that the fire originated at the rear of the building in an area where refuse had accumulated and which is known to be frequented by homeless individuals at nights.

She said the judiciary will be engaging the relevant government and municipal authorities to urgently address both the management of waste near the building and the use of the premises by homeless persons.

Two cases were scheduled for hearing on Wednesday morning when court employees first detected the damage caused by the fire.

Both have since been relocated.

In the interim, Jarrett Fletcher said contingency measures have been implemented to minimise disruption to court operations.

Hearings and filings will be temporarily redirected as follows:

* Matters previously scheduled to be heard at the Court of Appeal will be accommodated at the Supreme Court Building.

* All filings ordinarily made at the Court of Appeal are to be submitted at the Civil Registry of the Supreme Court.

- Livern Barrett

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