PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders, has praised Guyana’s commitment to strengthening its “hybrid” legal system to promote the rule of law.

Justice Saunders was, at the time, delivering the keynote address at the Guyana Bar Association (GBA)’s dinner, which was held on Saturday, April 9, at the Marriott Hotel.

The dinner ended a week of activities held by the association in celebration of the inaugural Law Week under the theme, “Advancing the rule of law under the new normal.”

“Our [CCJ] role as your final court of appeal is particularly humbling because this country is truly special. Your land space can easily swallow up all of the rest of CARICOM. You are one of a few states in the region with a hybrid legal system,” Justice Saunders said.

He explained that Guyana has the most advanced Constitution of the English-speaking countries in the Caribbean and goes out of its way to pay specific and due regard to the aspirations of young people and, importantly, to the status of women.

“Importantly, Guyana is also the only CARICOM Constitution that so fulsomely assures its citizens of what some refer to as second generation human rights. And today, while many developing states may only aspire to the full satisfaction by the state of those economic and social rights, Guyana is now blessed with the wherewithal to realise them,” he said.

Justice Saunders added that, in 2018, when the CCJ delivered its landmark ruling in the famous ‘Third Term Case’, it paid tremendous credit to the Guyana constitution reform exercise which was completed in 2001 under the leadership of the then Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkaran.

“Many CARICOM states have commissioned constitution reform exercises, but Guyana is one of the few states where such an exercise was carried right through to a successful conclusion. So, yes, we are proud to be of service to Guyana,” he said.

The CCJ President also spoke highly of the legal reform system, which he said is now “dynamic, responsive and innovative” since it has established sexual offences, juvenile, and drug treatment courts.

“It is a fact that over the last ten or so years we have been witnessing a series of steady reforms in the administration of justice of this country. The trajectory is certainly trending in an excellent direction,” he said.

To attest to the legal reform in Guyana, Justice Saunders highlighted the recent commissioning of the $37.8 million Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court and the electronic case management system, which is expected to be installed soon.

“… I am optimistic about the future. I can confidently say to Guyana, to the judiciary of Guyana and in relation to the administration of justice in this country, we all have this in common. The road ahead looks bright. Our best years are ahead of us…” he said.