IN a promising collaboration, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C., on Tuesday, met with a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Guyana.

The meeting, held at the AG’s Chambers on Carmichael Street, unveiled shared ambitions to enhance the country’s criminal justice system and address critical challenges.

According to a release from the AG’s Chambers, the focal point of the discussion centred on exploring potential programming opportunities aimed at fortifying the institutional capacity of the criminal justice system and effectively reducing the backlog of criminal cases.

“The Hon. Attorney General extended appreciation for the meeting and pledged his commitment to collaborate in addressing critical challenges within the justice system and promoting regional collaboration.

“He proposed a number of initiatives to be pursued that would significantly address different challenges and which would result in a more efficient functioning criminal justice machinery,” the release said.

His dedication to the cause was evident as he briefed the delegation on ongoing programs spearheaded by the Attorney General Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Notably, he highlighted the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) Programme, aimed primarily at reducing the prison population.
To ensure the continuity of efforts, Nandlall pledged to establish a committee that would maintain close communication with the UNDP. This committee will play a vital role in planning and executing a program specifically targeted at tackling the backlog within the criminal justice system, the release added.

The UNDP team was headed by Stephanie Ziebell, Deputy Resident Representative, and included Christalle Gemon, Acting Head of Governance and Poverty Reduction, Sarita Marshall, Programme Associate and Rene Chan, Operations Coordinator.

The AG was accompanied by Prithima Kissoon, Public Trustee/Official Receiver.

The delegation thanked Nandlall for the opportunity to delve into shared areas of interest.