ACTING Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan joined those sitting at the helm of the judiciary to turn the sod for a $132.2M Magistrate’s Court at Golden Grove on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). The multimillion-dollar court, which when completed will be equipped with an elevator, will significantly reduce the thousands of cases being heard at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
On Monday, the Acting Prime Minister joined the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards; acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire and Registrar of the Supreme Court, Sueanna Lovell, to turn the sod for the construction of the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court, which will be erected in the compound of the Golden Grove Police Station on the East Bank of Demerara.
During the simple sod turning and tree planting ceremony, the acting Chief Justice noted that the construction of the court building is in direct response to the rapidly expanding housing schemes in Diamond and Golden Grove. “We just had Providence Court that was serving this community but due to the development in this area, we have thought it fit to have another court to serve this area as we seek to ensure access to justice throughout our country,” Justice George-Wiltshire told those present.
Photos by Adrian Narine
It was explained that the Providence Magistrate’s Court currently serves the entire East Bank Demerara corridor, from Agricola to Timehri. The rapid expansion of housing schemes along that corridor has resulted in a significant increase in the number of cases being heard at the Providence Magistrate’s Court, and has created a burdensome situation for judicial personnel there.
“While it [Providence Magistrate’s Court] may have been adequate… in the 70s, 80s and 90s, because of the rapid expansion of the housing developments on the East Bank over the past few years, that Magistrate’s Court simply could not adequately serve our citizens on the East Bank.
Against this back drop, his honour sought to identify a suitable location for the court and since this area in Diamond/Grove had become one of the largest and most densely populated housing developments on the East Bank, it made sense to establish the court at or near this area,” Lovell explained.
She said the then Chancellor was made aware of a plot of land near the Golden Grove Police Station and set about working to bring his idea to reality.
The Supreme Court sought and was granted approval from the Ministry of Public Security, under whose jurisdiction the plot of land fell, and the Diamond/Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council for permission to construct the court in the area.
The contract was awarded to PD Contracting Services to the tune of $132.2M. The contractual agreement was signed on November 1, 2017 for a period of one year; however, there were some delays.
“Now since we have signed the contract and mobilised, we suffered some delays in relation to inclement weather, and because of the layout of this land we had some difficulties getting on the way. However, we hope to make up time during our upcoming dry season to be able to keep the project on schedule,” she posited.
Upon completion, the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court will house two court rooms, a library, two magistrate’s chambers, two clerk’s offices, a complete registry, holding cell, briefing room, and a janitor’s room among other facilities. It is expected to be the first court in Guyana with an elevator.
The contractor, Subhas Rupee told reporters that this is the fifth court his company will be constructing. PD Contracting Services built the Family Court, the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, the Wales’ Magistrate Court and the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.
