-by David Clarke

Guyana is taking the lead in advancing a more people-centered approach to justice, with a growing national focus on restorative justice.

Restorative justice is at the centre of discussions among judicial stakeholders, as efforts intensify to improve outcomes and expand access across the justice system.

That position was underscored by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who made the disclosure while delivering the feature address at the opening of the PACE Justice training programme in Georgetown. He says the country is already making significant progress in expanding restorative justice services nationwide.

“We are leading in the initiative of restorative justice, out of the ten regions of Guyana, we have restorative justice services established in six, and before the end of this year, hopefully we will have centres in all the regions of our country,” the AG said.

The approach shifts the justice system beyond punishment, and placing greater emphasis on accountability, rehabilitation, and the impact of crime on victims and communities. UNDP Country Rep. Katy Thompson applauded the government’s efforts, highlighting access to justice as a key pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“This is a really important part in the way UNDP approaches access to justice, which is to try and ensure we’re thinking about the human impact of criminal justice,” she said.

The United Nations Development Programme is supporting Guyana’s efforts through a range of capacity-building initiatives, including training in case management, forensics, criminal investigations, and police development.

Officials say that combining restorative justice with stronger institutional support will be key to delivering a more efficient, equitable, and people-centered justice system.