The revised version of the laws of Guyana was yesterday launched on the lawns of Parliament Buildings and it was disclosed that after 40 years, Guyana’s law reports have also been compiled.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, during his address, indicated that not only had the 2010 edition of the laws of Guyana been compiled but an electronic version of the volume is also available.
“We are launching this volume at a time when we have the benefit of technology, which will considerably aid our ability to use, access, search the volume…,” Singh said.
He noted that the laws that today are in place bare no resemblance to those that were extant in 1976. “It goes without saying that over the years, the entire legislative landscape of our country has been completely transformed,” Singh said.
He noted significant changes in the new compilation and stated that there is no doubt that this 2010 edition will dramatically change the way and improve the ease at which people work.
“I look forward to the considerate greater ease with which I’ll be able to refer to legislation in coming years with the benefit of what is being issued today,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also said that the law reports have been compiled under the leadership of the Attorney General’s Chambers and the success of this compilation should be applauded.
According to the Finance Minister, the justice sector law programme goes beyond the law revision but extends to a wider horizon of reforms implemented to the justice system in Guyana. These have included physical infrastructural works including rehabilitation to some court buildings and construction of new courtrooms, he explained.
Singh stated that this also included the updating and strengthening of the law libraries and the reduction of the backlog of cases before the courts, which, he added, it was the intention to have eliminated.
He further stated that with a newly-established and fully-functioning commercial court, there are plans in place for the establishment of a family court.
Singh indicated that significant steps are being taken in working with non-governmental organizations to improve easier access to the justice system, including the migration of the legal aid system from a Georgetown-based system to a national system.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Edward Wills, stated that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Guyana have been engaged in a partnership aimed at the modernization and renewal of the justice system in order to address justice with the primary goal of safety, security and access to justice for all.
The justice sector reform strategy, he said, was approved in 2006 by cabinet and outlined a comprehensive approach to the many challenges that confront the rule of law and which have a negative impact on citizens’ quality of life.
The strategy is being implemented through two interventions— the Citizens Security Programme that is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Modernization Programme that is administered by the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the High Court.
The Modernization Programme was further divided into sub-components in order to enhance linkages and administrative efficiencies of service delivery in the justice sector and to improve access to justice. Among the activities are: the strengthening of court administration, physical improvement of court rooms and court houses, improving the criminal justice and the conduct of prosecution, strengthening of the Ministry of Legal Affairs and DPP and modernizing legislation of civic and criminal procedures.
Wills stated that the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation unit will create linkages with ministries and regions using the user survey as a measure of the quality of the justice system in the country. The anticipated impact of this initiative, he said, will result in the evidence-based decision policy that will inform future interventions aimed at creating a culture of continuous improvement in the justice sector.
Other activities mentioned were informal justice through the introduction of a paralegal system in rural communities where Toshaos in the remote area are functioning as mediators and paralegals.
Also addressing the forum was Marco Nicola, a representative from the IAB, who considered the policy a clear one and noted that a number of important reforms have already been accomplished. He urged all Guyanese to take advantage of this important resource.
