Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall on Wednesday visited and inspected the works being done on a two-storey building in New Amsterdam, Region Six that will house an office of the director of public prosecutions (DPP) and either the land or deeds registry.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and government of Guyana funded project, is part of the Modernisation of Justice Administration System Programme. It costs US$ 20,450,005, and is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.
“It is important that I emphasise that this is the first time in Guyana’s history that a DPP office will be established in Berbice, and I believe that that is a significant accomplishment… it was a promise made in the manifesto of the PPP at the 2011 general elections,” Minister Nandlall said.
He explained that the office in Berbice is being established because the government has recognised the need to have certain facilities offered by the DPP to Region Six residents.
“Unfortunately, because there is no office of the DPP in Berbice, these documents cannot be served in a timely manner, and as a result, you cannot have the state being represented in Berbice in these matters… so litigants in Berbice are forced to file these types of matters all the way in Georgetown,” the minister stated.
He emphasised that having a DPP office in Berbice would correct these significant deficiencies, but more importantly, it will make it easier for the people of East and West Berbice to exercise their legal right to bail, and their legal right to challenge any form of etention by the police that they may deem unlawful.
“The establishment of this office is intended to assist the people of Berbice to actually realise those constitutional rights and freedoms,” Minister Nandlall noted.
The minister added that if the DPP decides to appoint permanent staff, they will have adequate space for accommodation.
With regards to the establishment of other similar facilities, Minister Nandlall explained that the office in Berbice would function as a pilot for another that will be opened in Essequibo; however, the establishment of this office would depend on the availability of funds.
