THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which has recognised that having enough judicial officers to handle cases is essential to the efficient administration of justice, has appointed nine new magistrates. The magistrates will take the oath of office soon.

Attorneys-at-Law Teriq Mohammed, Abigail Gibbs, Shivani Lalaram, Michelle Matthias, Tamieka Clarke, Orinthia Schmidt, Ravindra Mohabir, Omadatt Chandan, and Tuanna Hardy are the latest appointees. Mohammed, Clarke, Hardy and Schmidt were State Counsel in the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) Chambers for a while before venturing into private practice.

Gibbs was previously the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions and Mohabir previously worked as a prosecutor for the Guyana Police Force’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali reactivated the JSC in July 2023 after a six-year break, and in November it started posting job openings for various judicial positions.

In addition to Magistrates, the constitutional body sought to hire a Deputy Registrar for the High Court in Berbice, Puisne Judges, and Commissioners of Titles (Land Court Judges).

To qualify for appointment as a magistrate, applicants had to be an Attorney-at-Law admitted to practise law in Guyana or any Commonwealth country with at least five years’ experience or be magistrates from any other Commonwealth jurisdiction serving in that capacity for at least three years and qualified to practise in Guyana.

A magistrate is appointed and serves in that capacity until the age of 55 and is entitled to a basic pay of $880,885 per month plus allowances. Benefits include $15,000 for utilities, $20,000 for special needs, $2,500 per day for subsistence while working outside the district, duty-free concession that is renewed after three or five years (based on the purchase of a new or reconditioned vehicle), vacation allowance of one month tax-free basic salary and round-the-clock security.

Those appointed will be required to serve a probationary period of at least six months. On satisfactory completion of the period of probation, the appointees would be confirmed.

Magistrates appointed will serve in the 10 administrative regions, try persons charged with committing summary offences, hear and determine indictable charges heard summarily, conduct preliminary inquiries or paper committals into indictable charges, hear and determine applications made under the Domestic Violence Act, Mental Health Act and other legislation, hear applications for Liquor Licences, and hear applications for Money Lender’s Licences.

Magistrates are also required to serve as coroners and conduct inquests into unnatural deaths, prepare Memoranda of Reasons for decisions in a timely manner, prepare returns and reports as required, attend conferences, workshops, and training, be accountable to the Chancellor, Chief Justice, Chief Magistrate, and the Judicial Service Commission and perform any other related duties to support the efficient functioning of the magistracy.

The JSC is a constitutional body that deals with issues pertaining to judicial officers appointments, disciplinary action, removals, and promotions. With the exception of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice, this ommission is in charge of advising the President on the nomination of judges.

Its commissioners are Chancellor (ag) of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards; former Chancellor, Justice Carl Singh; Retired Appeal Court Judge BS Roy; Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George and Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman, Manniram Prashad. Cummings-Edwards is the JSC’s chairperson, while George and Prashad will serve as ex-officio members of the JSC.

While participating in the 2024 Budget debate, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC had informed the National Assembly that 10 magistrates would be appointed this year, bringing the total number to 29. He had said that a new post of deputy chief magistrate has been created.

The judiciary had been requesting the appointment of more judicial officers, citing the rise in workload due to staff shortages.