President David Granger has committed to support an increase in the complement of Magistrates within the judicial system to adequately serve the expanding sector.
This commitment was made on Wednesday at the commissioning ceremony of the new Diamond-Grove Magistrate’s Court on the East Bank of Demerara.
“Guyana’s 55 functional Magistrate’s Courts include the Bail Court, the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Court, Juvenile Court and Sexual Offences Court. These courts are presided over by a small core, I believe, of only 23 Magistrates. This is a lot of work for so few people. We have to do something about that,” he posited.
According to the Head of State, the Executive is willing to support expanding the complement of Magistrates so that the increasing courts can be manned adequately in the administration of justice.
He noted that the access to justice will be enhanced with the establishment of this new Magistrate’s Court, which is located next to the Grove-Diamond Police Station, EBD.
The Head of State went on to highlight the importance of the lower courts, noting that it is guardian of citizens’ rights.
“The establishment of additional Magistrates’ Courts is welcome especially as it guarantees swifter and easier access of justice and the provision of legal services to citizens,” he stated.
President Granger also spoke about the changing complexities within the legal system in which human rights issues and rehabilitation have become imperatives instead of just meting out punishment.
He went on to outline that the establishment of this new court will ease the caseload which had to be borne by the Providence Magistrate’s Court covering the East Bank of Demerara corridor and will improve access to justice for the estimated 70,000 residents of the entire East Bank of Demerara.
Access to justice
Enhancing ‘access to justice’ was a common theme among the speakers at Wednesday’s commissioning ceremony. Head of the Guyana Bar Association, Teni Housty, said that the new court represents the realisation of the right to access to justice.
“But while we might all be able to access justice, poverty, disabilities and other factors the manner in which persons are able to meaningfully access justice… Creating a building is not sufficient, it’s the utilisation of the facilities that would promote meaningful access to justice,” he stated.
On this note, Housty committed on behalf of the GBA to support continued and sustained efforts to improve the administration of justice.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General, Basil Williams, who pointed out that Magistrates’ Courts remove one of the critical barriers that prevent persons from accessing justice.
“This court at Diamond contributes to Guyana ensuring that there is sufficient and equal geographical distribution of justice institutions. Often times, ordinary Guyanese – man, woman and even children – have to travel long and arduous distances outside of their community to get to a Magistrates’ Court; and the justice system instead of bringing relief, brings hardship and more challenges,” he contended.
According to Williams, this is particularly more prevalent with residents in the hinterland regions. However, the Minister noted that with an increase number of Magistrates’ Courts throughout the hinterland region, there is now improved access to justice.
Meanwhile, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, spoke about the burden on the Providence Magistrate’s Court, which will now be reduced with this new facility.
She noted that the East Bank corridor will now have three Magistrates presiding at the Providence and the Diamond-Grove Courts. There are two courtrooms at the newly-commissioned facility which will deal with summary cases within the district, while the Providence Court will become specialised in traffic matters.
“All traffic matters will be dealt with at the Providence Court and I have seen the statistics, which informed our decision [because] the traffic matters are numerous and the Providence Magistrate’s Court will become a specialised court,” the acting Chancellor posited.
In addition to two courtrooms, the new Diamond-Grove Magistrate’s Court also contains a Domestic Violence Unit, holding facility for prisoners, among other features and is equipped with recording and video conference systems. The building also contains facilities to cater for differently-abled persons.
Operations at the new court begun Wednesday afternoon with Magistrate Rhondell Weaver presiding.
