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The Government of Guyana is committed to the establishment of a Family Court which is expected to invigorate the way in which family law is practiced in Guyana, resulting in a more judicious, sensitive and effective resolution of matters relating to children and marriage.
This, it is hoped, will help in reducing the number of cases in the High Court as it will complement the extensive overhauling of legislation affecting children, namely the Protection of Children’s Bill, the Status of Children’s Bill and the Adoption of Children’s Bill which have already been passed by the National Assembly; and the Child Care and Development Services Bill and the Custody and Maintenance Bill which are currently at the Attorney General Chambers for drafting.
With this in mind, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand, said she believes that the court can be established this year, especially with the significant strides being made by AG’s Chambers in this regard.
She noted , “I am not personally of the view that we need to wait until a separate building is constructed before we can begin the proceedings of this court. At present, the High Court is tasked with all the matters that would jurisdictionally come into the remit of the Family Court, once it is established. I believe that it is a matter of organisation within that structure, as well as the will… to ensure that the Family Court is a reality.”
The Family Court will be established as a division within the High Court. In this year’s National Budget, $105M was allocated for the construction of the Family Court, and Magistrates’ Courts in Charity, Leonora and No.51 Corentyne, Berbice. (GINA)
