Hayy to get new courthouse

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson | The Hayy Mayor Kadim Karim and the Hayy chief judge Falah Kareem cut the ribbon at the Hayy courthouse brick and mortar ceremony, Feb. 26.  

AL KUT, IRAQ

03.02.2009

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson 

Multi-National Division-Central

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – The judges in the Hayy judicial system currently have no courtroom, no judge's chambers and get only two to four hours of electricity a day. That is about to change.

Thanks to an Iraqi Commander's Emergency Response Program project, the existing building which also houses the Hayy real estate offices will be refurbished, and a new building that will include a new courtroom, judge's chambers and administrative offices, will be constructed.

Hayy Chief Judge Falah Kareem cut the ribbon and laid the first tile at the brick and mortar ceremony, signifying the start of the new project that was coordinated through the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team and the 41st Fires Brigade.

"We want to thank the Americans and the PRT because they helped us to renew this building here," said Falah. "I hope this project will be finished as soon as possible, so this court can provide a lot of service to the people of Al Hayy."

In addition to the new building, the project includes a new generator to provide consistent electricity to the court buildings, new bathroom facilities and a new perimeter wall. The total cost for the project is 381 million Iraqi dinar, which is $330,000.

"I'd like to thank the American forces for rebuilding the courthouse in Al Hayy and we would like them to build many more projects in Al Hayy," said Kadim Karim, Hayy mayor.

"If you think 11 short months ago, we were fighting the insurgency on these very streets," said Col. Richard Francey, 41st Fires Bde., commander. "Today the placing of the first stone and the building of a new courthouse represents the rule of law and the protection of human rights."

"Judge Falah and many others in this province have sacrificed much to get to where we are today," he added. "The Iraqi people can be very proud of where they are and where they are going."

• Date Taken: 03.02.2009
• Date Posted: 03.02.2009 10:52
• Story ID: 30629
• Location: AL KUT, IQ