Gy$22.3M renovated Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court opens

The rehabilitated magistrate’s court at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Region Six was re-opened on Monday in the presence of President Donald Ramotar, who reiterated the call for expeditiousness in dealing with litigations.
The Gy$22.3 million rehabilitated facility, which was in a derelict state before construction commenced in 2011, adds to the list of judicial facilities across the country earmarked for overhaul under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded justice sector modernisation programme.
Government spent more than Gy$1.7 billion during 2011 for the continued development of the sector and this year, approximately Gy$2.1 billion has been earmarked for spending.
The Mibicuri Court joins the Central Magistrate’s Court in New Amsterdam and other buildings at Sister’s Village, Reliance, Fort Wellington, Springlands and Charity that have been renovated as part of the commitment to resource the judiciary.
A magistrate’s court is also currently being constructed at Lethem, Region Nine, while the sum of Gy$25 million is being spent to construct a new mediation centre in New Amsterdam.
“The programme is now reaching its twilight period, it’s coming to an end, but thus far, almost every single court building in this country has been touched by the programme in terms of its physical infrastructure,” Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, who was part of the re-opening, said.
The physical appearance of court facilities in Guyana has improved significantly according to President Ramotar, through millions of dollars spent on rehabilitation and the construction of new buildings.
In excess of Gy$300 million will be spent during the year to construct, rehabilitate and maintain court facilities countrywide, especially in Bartica, Berbice, and Wales with facilities to house and accommodate a magistrate, thereby allowing for more frequent sittings of the court in these areas.
The Family Court, an initiative conceived by the government will soon be operational as its rules have been laid in the National Assembly.
Challenge
While the residents were urged to be the caretakers of the spanking new facility, the judiciary is still being challenged by a heavy backlog of cases.
Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh said he was compelled to instruct a change in what he observed was the half-day functioning of magistrate’s courts.
“I insisted that the courts must function for the whole day because… people come from long distances and want their cases to be heard… it was my view, and it became a matter of policy that the efficiency of the courts can be measured by the timely delivery of decisions,” Justice Singh said. The October Criminal Session in Demerara opened at the Demerara Assizes on October 2 this year with 226 cases, including 180 murders pending.