Final Family Court rules would be available shortly
THE Guyana Family Court Rules, that were drafted by local officials, have been significantly changed by an expert from Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), to whom they were submitted.
But Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, who made the disclosure last Friday morning, said that a final body of rules would become available shortly.
He spoke with the Guyana Chronicle on the sidelines of the first ever mediation forum in Guyana at the Ocean View International Hotel, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
Last August, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand had lamented the fact that Family Court Rules had been submitted to the responsible committee since November 2010 and were not yet legislated into law.
Justice Singh, however, assured that the changes proposed by the T&T expert are being worked on and, within a short period, “we should have a final body of rules.”
“The only thing is that there are some administrative issues to be ironed out and the personnel for the court have to be identified and appointed,” he added.
A May 2010 deadline had been set for the opening of the first ever Family Court in Guyana and a building to accommodate it was constructed in the High Court compound.
The new, two-storey edifice has replicated the architectural style of the adjacent High Court and Law Library.
The establishment is to deal with issues such as divorce, division of property and other domestic matters, including adoption, guardianship and custody.
Expressing her concerns, Minister Manickchand had told reporters: “I understand, from the Judiciary, that we are now waiting on the rules, which can only be made by the Rules Committee, a matter of law, separate from the executive arm of Government.” 
She said Family Court officials had indicated to Government that they had no capacity to get those rules made and recommended someone, who was hired, to do the drafting.
Manickchand said the rules were, subsequently, submitted to the Acting Chancellor, who is the head of the Rules Committee, since November 2010. But, to date, they have not been made legal.
“I, for myself, am very disappointed that it has not been done as yet,” Manickchand said, adding that every other promise made by the Government, through her ministry, has been fulfilled, except that of the Family Court.
“So I’m personally disappointed…the failure of the Rules Committee to have these rules adopted has really stalled my own progress in getting 100 per cent of what we have completed,” she said.
However, the minister said she was pleased that her ministry did whatever it could to get the court to the stage where it is at presently.
“What needs to be done now is dependent on that body over which I have no jurisdiction,” she declared.
The initiative for a Family Court was prompted by the awareness that the family unit is severely affected by societal demoralisation. This recognition has motivated the emphasis on providing an environment where adults and children can seek justice and family law can be dealt with in a specialised manner.