Assurances of justice given at Wales Court commissioning
The new Wales Magistrate Court
The new Wales Magistrate Court

THE Wales Magistrate Court, at West Bank Demerara, was commissioned yesterday, in another act towards improving the justice system through infrastructural advancement.

Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, and one of the local magistrates cut the ceremonial ribbon officially opening the new court
Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, and one of the local magistrates cut the ceremonial ribbon officially opening the new court

Speaking on the occasion, Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall stated that, in the last seven years, Guyana has seen more advances in the process, also through legislative moves, since Guyana became independent.
“The judicial system must be positioned to be equal and accessible,” Nandlall said, as he referred to the support this country secured with a loan of US$25M from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB for the modernisation.
According to him, by these efforts, to date, court buildings have either been rehabilitated, expanded or refurbished and, in some communities, new structures were erected.
Among the other undertakings he cited were the compilation of the revised laws of Guyana, the Guyana Law Reports from 1977 to 2007, the modernisation of the legislative landscape with the passage of more than 100 pieces of legislation to improve the administration of the justice system and the increase in the complement of High Court judges, from 12 to 20.
Much development
“There been much development in the judiciary within such a short time,” Nandlall pointed out.

A view of the court’s interior
A view of the court’s interior

He added that Government is committed to ensuring principles of freedom, democracy and justice, all of which are inextricably linked.
“We believe there is a strong connection between economic advances and the justice system,” the AG stated.
Nandlall underscored the fact that the absence of freedoms, as are protected by the judicial system, has consequences on the economic front.
He cited comparison between developed countries and their protection of people’s freedoms and under-developed countries where such freedoms are impeded.
He said a similar state of events will not be repeated under any People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, but acknowledged that there is still much work yet to be done, while the judiciary has seen marked improvements.

Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, chats with students from schools in the community who were among the first to tour the new facility yesterday
Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, chats with students from schools in the community who were among the first to tour the new facility yesterday

Nandlall said:”The judiciary is intended to serve the people,” as he welcomed the commissioning of the new facility.
Acting Chancellor Justice Carl Singh also made remarks at the simple ceremony, bemoaning the need for proper “attitude and ethics” by all stakeholders.
He challenged the people of the community to support the dispensation of justice by reporting infractions by judicial officials.
“The architecture of the judicial administration is not built by intent and design to perpetrate wrongdoing,” he emphasised.
Justice Singh gave the assurance that due process will be the order of the day to ensure the fair and transparent dispensation of justice, reiterating that infractions of the system will attract as “forcible” a reprimand as is necessary.
Those in attendance at the function included other officials of the judiciary, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Parliamentarian Joseph Harmon and students from several schools in the neighbouring community.
By Vanessa Narine

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