Jamaica’s capability for correct and well timed forensic examinations has been bolstered with the opening of the brand new state-of-the-art Forensic Pathology Post-mortem Suite on Thursday (June 12).
The $680-million facility, positioned at 149 Orange Avenue, downtown Kingston, will streamline autopsy companies, ending years of reliance on personal funeral houses, which has resulted in delays.
Its institution marks the completion of the event of the Institute of Forensic Science and Authorized Medication, which goals to strengthen the forensic functionality of the Jamaica Constabulary Pressure (JCF) and scale back the backlog of legal and different instances.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Nationwide Safety, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, in his deal with on the opening ceremony, mentioned that the ability, which might be absolutely operational within the subsequent few weeks, will improve the legal justice system and public well being.
“With storage for 150 instances… the post-mortem suite can deal with quantity. We don’t must depend on the funeral houses that don’t have the suitable amenities for medical authorized investigations,” he identified.
“It offers the suitable amenities and can be capable of offer you a degree of certitude within the high quality of proof,” he mentioned.
“Right this moment’s opening… is one other main step in taking our legal justice system to a brand new degree, a degree that’s appropriate with the state of improvement,” he added, noting that the Authorities is dedicated to offering a legal justice system that may perform effectively and convey high quality service to Jamaicans.
The Nationwide Safety Minister mentioned that the ability will also be used to supply coaching for forensic scientists within the nation and the broader Caribbean to strengthen the area’s forensic companies.
Key options of the Forensic Pathology Post-mortem Suite embody 4 dissecting bays with surgical lighting, enabling a number of post-mortems to be performed concurrently; a refrigeration system with capability to retailer as much as 150 our bodies in various phases of decomposition; a completely geared up X-ray room, a number of forensic laboratories, and a instructing and isolation room, in addition to administrative places of work, a solar-powered water heating system, and a standby generator for vitality resilience.
The institution of the ability marks the start of the tip of outsourcing medico-legal post-mortems to unregulated funeral houses; strengthening of the investigative and judicial programs by making certain quicker, extra correct forensic outcomes; lowering public expenditure for contracted funeral houses; clearing the prevailing backlog of autopsies by working seven days every week; and offering coaching alternatives for native medical doctors pursuing forensic pathology, lowering the dependence on abroad specialists.
The undertaking was financed by the Authorities and applied by the Ministry of Nationwide Safety.
Different audio system on the perform included Minister of Native Authorities and Neighborhood Improvement and Member of Parliament, Kingston Western, Hon. Desmond McKenzie; Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby; and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Andrew Lewis.
