DPP’s office being relocated because of mold

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in downtown Kingston is being relocated to the Ministry of Justice because mold has infested the newly renovated and expanded building, causing some staff members to be sick.

It cost the government just over $850 million to renovate and expand the building about two years ago.

Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck told The Gleaner this afternoon that he had spoken to the contractor about the problem and directed that steps be taken immediately to remedy the situation.

A member of staff has described the building as a health risk, pointing out that for several months some staff members have been having breathing problems because of the mold.

“The mold first took over the first floor of the building and then a few weeks ago mold has surfaced onto the second floor,” a member of staff said.

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“One of the problems is that the windows to the newly renovated building are all sealed and no air is getting into the building.”

Chuck explained that from his investigation, the mold could have been caused from the fact that the central air-conditioning unit in the building is sweating. He disclosed that another factor was that there was not sufficient air flow throughout the building. He is expressing hope that the problem will be solved very soon.

In the meantime, some members of staff have to be working from home until the relocation to the Ministry of Justice building is completed.

Chuck, at the signing of the contract in September 2019, said “the facilities at the Court of Appeal are first class facilities, just completed by the same contractor, Y.P Seaton, and we expect no less at the DPP. We expect the DPP offices to be first class facilities.”

A prosecutor said today that the office is comfortable to work in but no one expected that mold would really drive them out of the building so soon.

- Barbara Gayle