-by Kimberly Giddings

At the ceremonial opening of Law Year 2026, Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Roxanne George, delivered a comprehensive assessment of Guyana’s court system, but her strongest message focused on judicial independence.

She said although Guyana was the first CARICOM state to grant constitutional autonomy to its judiciary, those provisions are still not fully in place.

“Most importantly, I reiterate, the judiciary looks forward to full compliance with Article 122A of the Constitution of Guyana, and the return of the judiciary to being a fully self-accounting entity, which manages its tender processes with full accountability to Parliament regarding how its budgetary allocation is spent,” she said.

The Acting Chancellor also noted that the loss of more than 100 court staff over the past year is straining court operations nationwide, especially in high-volume courts.

“There is great difficulty in attracting and retaining staff to ensure that our courts function efficiently at all times. This very major challenge has to be addressed soonest, even as we await proposed medium to long-term solutions,”

Despite these challenges, Justice George appointed two ongoing reforms, including the expansion of digital court systems, electronic filing, and plans for a secure judicial data centre aimed at improving efficiency and public trust.

She also welcomed discussions on the creation of a purpose-built judicial complex, which would bring together the Court of Appeal High Court, registries, and administrative offices under one modern facility. Justice George stressed that the meaningful reform will require sustained collaboration between the judiciary, the executive, and the legal profession, as well as the full implementation of constitutional guarantees designed to protect judicial independence.