– Prime Minister says as five Commissioners of Title, six Magistrates sworn in to strengthen justice delivery
PRIME Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Wednesday reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to preserving an independent, adequately resourced and efficient judiciary, describing it as a cornerstone of democracy, as he swore in five new Commissioners of Title and six new Magistrates.
The Prime Minister made this known during the swearing-in ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where he indicated that the Executive has invested heavily in strengthening the judicial system through improved infrastructure, technology and human resources, while maintaining the judiciary’s constitutional independence.
“The most fundamental component of an efficient judiciary is that it must be resourced. The Executive that I represent here today is largely responsible for providing those resources. At no time in the history of independent Guyana has the judiciary been better resourced than during the period 2020 to 2026,” Phillips said.
The five Commissioners of Title appointed to serve in the Land Court are Alicia Lowenfield, Annette Singh, Alisha George, Shivani Lalaram and Utieka John.
The six newly appointed Magistrates are Ocelisa Marks, Nikkisha Logan, Jimelle Joseph, Shareefah Parks, Taneisha Saygon and Caressa Henry.
The appointments come as the judiciary continues efforts to address staffing shortages and improve the timely disposal of matters before the courts.
Earlier this year, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Roxane George, disclosed that seven magistrate vacancies existed following promotions to the offices of Commissioner of Title and High Court Judge, while five vacancies also remained among Puisne Judges.
Phillips noted that the Government has made significant investments to strengthen the justice system, including the construction and rehabilitation of courthouses and the procurement of an upgraded e-litigation system.
According to him, the technology has modernised court operations, strengthened case management and supported the efficient disposal of cases.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the steady expansion of the judiciary in recent years, pointing to the appointment of nine Magistrates in February 2024, three Commissioners of Title in April 2024, 10 Puisne Judges in June 2024 and seven Justices of Appeal in May 2025.
Despite the Government’s investment in the sector, Phillips stressed that the Executive does not interfere in the appointment or functioning of judicial officers.
“We do not control the judiciary, we do not determine whom they appoint, we do not determine how they function. The judiciary must remain functionally independent. It is a fundamental constitutional concept which we embrace,” he said.
He added that an independent and competent judiciary is critical not only to upholding the rule of law and maintaining public confidence, but also to fostering a stable environment for investment.
“All the Executive asks, on behalf of the people of Guyana whom we are elected to represent, is that the judiciary functions independently, fairly and makes decisions in accordance with law,” Phillips said.
Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, welcomed the appointments, noting that the additional judicial officers will strengthen the capacity of both the Land Court and the Magistracy.
He said the new Commissioners of Title and Magistrates would “certainly augment the efficiency and expedient disposal of cases in the Land Courts and across the Magistracy.”
The Attorney General also echoed the Prime Minister’s assessment of the Government’s investment in the sector.
“I once again reiterate that the Judiciary has never been more resourced than it is now, since independence. All that the public demands and to which it is entitled is a system that delivers justice efficiently and in accordance with law,” Nandlall said.
