Georgetown: A new Land Court and also a new Magistrate’s Court at Sparendaam are on the cards this year, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said in his $220 billion budget on Monday.
During the presentation of the 2014 National Budget on Monday, Dr Singh disclosed that the administration has put aside $1.8 billion for the sector to continue its advancement. With the $1.8 billion allocation for the sector, there will be continued investments in infrastructural works as some $238.5 million will be directed towards the construction of a Land Court, a new Magistrate’s Court at Sparendaam, the completion of the Number 51 Village Magistrate’s Court, the rehabilitation of court rooms at the High Court and maintenance of facilities nationwide.
This year will also see works done in the modernisation of the country’s law documents. Already in February last, the requisite law revision order was gazetted; thus bringing into effect the newly amended and consolidated version of the Laws of Guyana. This was done in accordance with the Law Revision Act Chapter 2:02.
Meanwhile, the courts will see several new practice directions drafted to support the new Rules of the High Court Civil Procedure. The new rules were implemented to simplify the commencement of proceedings in court, allow citizens easier access to the court, and provide the mechanism for recourse to mediation. There will also be works done with the civil and criminal justice committees to intensify efforts to monitor and evaluate the performance of Magistrates’ and High Courts countrywide. A baseline report on the use of court resources is expected to be produced to aid the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of the courts, thereby ensuring more timely access to justice.
Voice recording systems
Last years, some $275.5 million was expended on works on the infrastructure within the sector. This included the construction a $25 million Mediation Centre in New Amsterdam and several upgrade works at facilities such as Magistrates’ and High Courts. Some of the courts renovated were the Wales Magistrate’s Court, West Bank Demerara; Leonora Magistrate’s Court, West Coast Demerara, and the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
These infrastructural works were done under the Modernisation of the Justice Administration Project, which seeks to improve the physical and infrastructural capacity of the justice sector. Further, under this component of the project, new courts were constructed in Springlands, Whim, Canje, New Amsterdam, Sisters Village, Fort Wellington, Wales, Wismar, and Lethem, among other areas.
The project also saw rehabilitation works conducted on the Court of Appeal and the High Court complexes of Berbice and Demerara. Also renovated were the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecution’s offices, both in Georgetown and New Amsterdam.
Strengthening of justice sector
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