KINGSTON, Jamaica — Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth North East, Zuleika Jess says the government needs to address issues affecting non-functional courts in the parish, stressing that the situation is affecting access to justice for residents.

“We don’t have a court in Savanna-la-Mar, the parish court mash up, we don’t have a court in Black River and yet they go around and boast that they are doing all things great but nobody on the ground can feel it,” she said.

Jess was speaking at the Norman Gardens Divisional Conference on Saturday at Rennock Lodge Primary and Junior High School, where she called for urgent action to restore proper court operations in the parish.