THE Guyana Legal Aid Clinic (GLAC) recorded a significant demand for its services during the first quarter of 2026, handling more than 700 new matters across Regions Two, Four, Five and Six, with family-related disputes continuing to dominate the caseload.
Statistics released by the clinic for the period January to March 2026 show that a total of 703 persons sought assistance from the legal aid service. Women accounted for the majority of clients, with 433 females accessing services compared to 270 males.
The figures highlight the important role the legal aid system continues to play in providing legal support to vulnerable and low-income citizens across the country.
Region Four (Georgetown) recorded by far the highest number of clients, with 423 persons seeking assistance during the reporting period. Region Two (Anna Regina) followed with 164 clients, while Region Six (New Amsterdam) recorded 110 clients and Region Five (Fort Wellington) registered six.
Family law matters remained the most common issues presented to the legal aid clinics. Divorce cases alone accounted for 288 matters across the four regions. Georgetown recorded the largest number of divorce matters with 196 cases, followed by New Amsterdam with 47, Anna Regina with 42 and Fort Wellington with three. The figures suggest that marital breakdowns continue to be one of the primary reasons persons seek legal assistance.
Custody and access disputes also featured prominently among the matters brought before the clinics. Region Four handled 38 custody and access cases, Region Six recorded 15, while Region Two dealt with 14 such matters. These cases often involve disputes over parental rights and arrangements concerning children following separation or divorce.
Property-related matters likewise generated considerable demand for legal assistance. Region Four recorded 28 property disputes and 24 division of property matters, while Region Two handled 19 property disputes and five prescriptive title matters. Region Six reported six property disputes and three division of property matters. Estate matters were also common, with 36 cases recorded in Georgetown, 26 in Anna Regina and two in New Amsterdam.
Overall, civil matters accounted for the overwhelming majority of the clinic’s workload. Across the four regions, 623 civil matters were recorded during the quarter. Of these, 394 matters resulted in legal representation being provided, while 229 persons received legal advice only.
No client was recorded as being ineligible for legal aid services during the reporting period.
Criminal matters represented a smaller but still important component of the clinic’s work.
A total of 80 criminal matters were handled across the four regions. Georgetown accounted for half of those cases, recording 40 matters, followed by New Amsterdam with 21, Anna Regina with 17 and Fort Wellington with two.
Among criminal matters, assault cases were the most common, with 19 cases recorded across the four regions. Murder and manslaughter matters accounted for 12 cases, while robbery and theft offences totalled seven cases. Other matters included rape and carnal knowledge, narcotics offences, disorderly behaviour, firearms offences and threatening language.
The statistics also reveal that many matters were resolved through legal advice rather than formal representation, demonstrating the role of the clinic in helping individuals understand their rights and legal options before disputes escalate. The legal aid system additionally continues to work closely with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security as well as non-governmental organisations, including Help and Shelter, through mutual referrals aimed at ensuring clients receive the support they need.
The GLAC provides legal assistance to individuals who are unable to afford private legal representation. Since its establishment in March 1994, the organisation has helped tens of thousands of persons—most of them women—access justice and safeguard their legal rights.
Over its 32 years of operation, GLAC has expanded its reach through four offices located at King and Charlotte Streets in Georgetown (Region Four), Anna Regina in Region Two, Fort Wellington on the West Coast of Berbice in Region Five, and Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, Region Six.
The organisation operates with a team of nine attorneys and receives the bulk of its funding from the government, donor agencies, and socially responsible organisations and individuals.
