-critical infrastructural works to be done

HIGH on Government’s agenda, through its Justice Sector budgetary allocation, will be to further consolidate the advances already made within the sector. Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh stated on Monday that the requisite law revision order was gazetted in February, bringing into effect the newly amended and consolidated version of the Laws of Guyana. This is in accordance with the Law Revision Act Cap. 2:02.
Further, as part of government’s commitment towards increasing capacity within the sector, a number of practice directions are being drafted to support the new Rules of the High Court Civil Procedure.
These new rules, the Finance Minister said, will simplify the commencement of proceedings in court, to allow citizens easier access to the court, and provide the mechanism for recourse to mediation
In addition, this year’s budgetary allocation will make provision for the Civil and Criminal Justice Committees to intensify their efforts toward monitoring and evaluating the performance of Magistrates’ and High Courts countrywide.
Minister Singh added that a baseline report on the use of court resources is expected to be produced to aid the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the courts, thereby ensuring more timely access to justice.
Additionally, in 2014, voice recordings will be introduced for the first time in the Chief Justice’s Court, the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal, which is expected to further reduce the time taken to record and process cases. Moreover, Government has also increased the number of Puisne Judges to 20, with a view to enhancing the system’s capacity to discharge its important functions in a timely manner.
As it relates to investments for infrastructure, the sum of $238.5M has been allocated for same. Out of this allocation, the manifestation of the Land Court will be realised, along with a new Magistrates’ Court at Sparendaam, the completion of the No. 51 Village Court, the rehabilitation of courtrooms at the High Court, and maintenance of facilities nationwide.
Meanwhile, in 2013, $275.5M was spent on infrastructure in the justice sector for the construction and upgrade of several facilities, including the Mediation Centre in New Amsterdam and various Magistrates’ Courts, along with rehabilitation of the High Court.
Additionally, the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Georgetown and New Amsterdam were fully renovated, thus expanding the residential presence and, by extension, effectiveness of the public prosecutorial function beyond Georgetown.
With regard to strengthening effectiveness of the justice system, both one Civil and three Criminal Justice Committees were established to review the functioning of Guyana’s justice system, monitor and evaluate the performance of the courts.
In addition, a Prosecutors’ Management Information System, which is expected to accelerate the processing of criminal depositions, was installed and is operational at the DPP’s Chambers.
Guyana’s Law Reports for the period 1930 to 2007, and the revision of the Laws of Guyana up to 2010 were completed, and the latter is now available in print for the first time in 34 years.
Reduction of backlogged cases continued apace, with an additional 1,000 cases being cleared out of the court system.

(GINA)