QUESTIONS on value for money, relative to the recently commissioned No. 51 Magistrate’s Court, raised by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member, Joseph Harmon, were received by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, who had questions of his own.“How do you question value for money without examining the facilities? As a member of the practicing bar, Mr Harmon ought not to jump to conclusions without examining the evidence,”

Nandlall said.He explained that the new courthouse is a modern facility that is fully air-conditioned, with a large magistrate’s chambers and restroom facilities, similar facilities for members of the public and separate accommodations for incarcerated individuals who are required to appear in court, as well as separate access driveways for both the magistrate and other users of the court.
“It is unfortunate and wholly reckless for Mr Harmon to have made such outrageous statements, without attempting to see the facilities. If he had taken the opportunity to do so, he would have observed that the court is perhaps one of the best magistrate courts in this country,” the Attorney General said.
He underscored the fact that the construction of the new courthouse was the product of an independent, transparent and accountable public procurement process.
“It is a process that is manned by public servants and it is one in which the only role of government is the offering of the no objection at the end of the process,” Nandlall said.
No contracts are awarded by Cabinet; rather contracts above the $15M mark are taken to Cabinet only for its no-objection. Contracts above the $5M mark must by law undergo a public procurement process under the supervision of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
“I understand the Opposition’s contention has always been that the public procurement process must be free from governmental interference, well it is and that is what it had produced. Mr Harmon and the Opposition cannot on one hand demand an independent public procurement process and when that is done, still blame the government when they perceive, not justify, an irregularity,” the Attorney General said.
Importantly, he highlighted that the commissioning of the new courthouse is a delivery on the Government’s commitment to ensure that the judiciary is adequately resourced.
“The point I want to make is that Mr Harmon, being a practicing lawyer, ought to know more than most the need for greater allocation of resources to the judiciary. Indeed over the last seven years this government has provided the necessary resources to rebuild or to repair every single courthouse across the length and breadth of this country,” Nandlall said.
The Attorney General referred to several courthouses that were commissioned in the last few months, including the ones at Wales, West Bank Demerara, and Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
“We will continue to provide resources to continue our transformation of the judicial system to ensure that all of our citizens, wherever they may, have ready access to a competent, efficient and impartial judicial system,” he stressed.
The No. 51 Village Magistrate’s Court, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) was completed at a cost of $46M. (Vanessa Narine)