Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang has granted a further extension to CLICO’s Judicial Manager, Maria van Beek following a request by her attorney for additional time to complete a report.The final report was due on Friday, but counsel for van Beek, Senior Counsel Ashton Chase informed that she was unable to make the deadline. He said on Monday that the Judicial Manager is still recuperating from the injuries she suffered last month. She was shot in the chest on April 16 while on her way to work.

Senior Counsel requested an additional two weeks, which was granted, and alluded to the possibility of van Beek not being present at the hearing for the next return date since she is likely to be out of the jurisdiction. Previously, van Beek had appeared in court to submit the report.

Justice Chang had previously stated that more information is needed in relation to the particulars of CLICO’s statutory fund, noting that the Judicial Manager must provide information on all the lines of businesses that CLICO (Guyana) conducts, which relates to the various categories of insurance such as accident, fire and motor.

The Chief Justice’s request for additional information comes as CLICO’s attorneys led by Roysdale Forde are urging the court to consider re-opening various lines of business of the company because its statutory fund is in order.

Forde has argued strongly for the court to sanction all of van Beek’s actions as it relates to CLICO (Guyana) and on Monday, Senior Counsel Chase gave an undertaking to the court that the Judicial Manager will seek the advice and permission of the court before proceeding to dispose of any assets belonging to the company. Forde, who is appearing in association with attorneys, Stephen Lewis and Keith Massiah S.C. has entered a formal appearance on behalf of CLICO (Guyana) in the winding-up hearing before the Chief Justice.

Government last week tabled legislation in Parliament which will see the Bank of Guyana (BoG) taking over the functions of the Commissioner of Insurance (CoI).