The Government’s $9.3 billion investment to expand and strengthen justice system, this year, will modernize Guyana’s legal infrastructure for the 21st century. So says President of the Bar Association, Kamal Ramkarran.
In an exclusive interview with NCN News, Ramkarran emphasised that this substantial funding will act as a catalyst for national legal reform.
He noted that upgrading court facilities and expanding the number of magistrate’s courts will help streamline operations and significantly reduce waiting times, making justice more accessible and timely for communities across the country.
“The adding of infrastructure brings justice to the people if you have more courts, more magistrate’s courts in communities that means waiting time will reduce. So the cases can be dealt with quicker because each area where there is a lot of people will have a court,” Ramkarran explained.
He noted that the budget will also allow for increased staffing across the judiciary.
“I believe we now have eight of opposed nine member court of appeal panel, there is one other judge to be sworn in so we going to have nine court of appeal judges sitting in two courts simultaneously [and that] means a great deal,” the GBA President added.
Of the $9.3 billion allocated to the sector, $2 billion will be spent to advance works at several magistrates’ courts, including those at Timehri, La Parfaite Harmonie and Providence. The allocation also supports the continued digital transformation within the judiciary.