The Government of Guyana is presently working on new legislation to modernize the criminal justice system and better provide justice.
This is according to the Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who disclosed that among the new legislations is the Criminal Justice (Plea Discussion and Plea Agreement) Bill, which is intended for the prosecution and defence, in certain cases, to sit down and work out a settlement appropriate to the principals of justice.
“That mechanism was highlighted as one of the means by which we can bring greater speed to the system and tot legal criminal process. We can reduce the backlog, save a lot of resources, while at the same time, maintaining an acceptable and just and fair and legal regime of sanctions,” he said.
Minister Nandlall also said that works on this bill, as well as the Abolishment of Preliminary Hearings bill, are complete and as such, they will be presented to the Cabinet and subsequently, the National Assembly.
In addition, he says the Chamber is working on new guidelines for sentencing.
“Those guidelines should address the inconsistent sentencing patterns that members of the public have complained against.”
Moreover, the Attorney General asserted that he has communicated with the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary about the upgrading of the current list of persons eligible for jury duty.