The court system, burdened by a backlog of cases would have some relief, President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Monday, August 29, as he commissioned a spanking new Gy$20.4 million magistrate’s court at Charity on the Essequibo Coast.
The newly-commissioned court at Charity
Speaking to the hundreds who gathered at the commissioning ceremony, the Guyanese leader said the court was constructed with a view to having matters disposed of in an expeditious manner and providing Essequibians with justice close to home.
He said the establishment of the court at Charity will also provide those living within the riverine areas, such as Pomeroon, with legal services.
According to him, the magistrate’s court is testimony to the good governance being practised by his administration, as it seeks to provide the essential services as well as necessary infrastructure to the people. “What you see today is a significant transformation of what you call a process of rapid changes in the judicial system in Guyana; this is the mandate of the PPP.” He said that government, over the years has worked with the Legal Affairs Ministry to construct several courts in Guyana in an effort to transform and modernise the judicial system.
“The judicial system has moved from where the High Court used to hoist the ruling political party flag to hoisting the National Flag; this shows independence in a democratic way. We should have law and order and our courts ensure this,” Jagdeo said.
He stressed that, with the new building, he expects the magistrates operating within the district to put in extra hours.
The president said he is also hoping that more cases will be resolved per day. He noted that he expects the magistrates to be accountable to the people as well as the magistracy.
Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, in his address, said the new magistrate’s court is a significant improvement in the system.
He pointed out that many courts in Guyana were rehabilitated and constructed in an effort to boost, modernise and deliver better legal services to the people.
He urged the magistrates and lawyers who will be utilising the building to take good care of it.
Resident Magistrate Leron Daly expressed her gratitude to the Legal Affairs Ministry for the new building.
Daly said that it was a timely intervention and previously magistrates were forced to use an old building which was not environmentally friendly. She assured President Jagdeo that more cases will be heard on the coast.
Also in attendance were Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira, Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford, PPP presidential candidate Donald Ramotar, Region Two Chairman Alli Baksh, Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo, members of parliament Farouk Khan and Parmanand Persaud and other officials.
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