–at Land Courts in Essequibo and Berbice
THREE women magistrates have been selected by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to be appointed as Commissioners of Title in the Land Courts of Essequibo and Berbice.
This announcement comes at a time when there are efforts being rolled out to address the backlog of pending cases within the judicial system, and to provide relief to the overburdened judiciary.
According to a press release from the Supreme Court, these women previously served as State Counsel in the Chambers of the Attorney General and the Chambers of Director of Public Prosecutions, and as magistrates in the various magisterial districts in Guyana.
The Oath of Office for appointment as Commissioner of Title will be taken before the Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips on April 5, 2024 at 14:00 hrs.
Among these legal minds is Esther Sam, who attained her secondary education at Queens College and thereafter read for a Bachelor of Laws Degree at the University of Guyana (UG).
After achieving her degree, Sam pursued studies at the Hugh Wooding Law School. In 2009, she successfully obtained her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) and was admitted to the local Bar the same year.
In October 2009, she commenced working as a State Counsel in the Chambers of the Attorney General and during her tenure, she also served in the post of Senior Legal Adviser and thereafter as Principal Legal Adviser.
On March 1, 2017, she was appointed to the magistracy and has presided mainly in the magistrates’ courts at Charity, Anna Regina, Suddie, Leguan and Wakenaam.
Meanwhile, Renita Singh acquired her secondary education at North Georgetown Secondary School and the Bishops’ High School, and on completion of her secondary education, she attended UG where she read for a Bachelor of Laws Degree. On completion, she pursued a LEC at the Hugh Wooding Law School.
She was later admitted to the Bar in 2011 and her legal career commenced in that same year at the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) where she was employed as a State Counsel. Whilst there, she was promoted to the position of Senior State Counsel.
In 2014, Singh was appointed to the magistracy. She served as a magistrate in Georgetown and Berbice for 10 years.
Additionally, Christel Lambert obtained a Bachelor of Laws from UG in 2009, a LEC from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2011, a Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus, in 2014 and a Master of Laws in Oil and Gas from the University of Aberdeen, where she graduated with a distinction in 2019.
Lambert was admitted to the Bar in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago in 2011. Thereafter, she embarked on a legal career as a Judicial Research Assistant in the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago. On her return home in 2015, she was appointed a magistrate and served primarily at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for most of her tenure.
The JSC, with a three-year life, is responsible for making recommendations for judicial appointments and disciplinary control over judicial officers.
It advises the President on judicial appointments, except for the Chancellor and the Chief Justice.
The judicial system faces challenges due to the shortage of judges and magistrates burdening the existing pool of judicial officers.
