Government is proposing to spend $1 billion on the justice sector this year, according to Minister Winston Jordan who told the National Assembly that efforts will be made to make the justice system fair and accessible to all.
Delivering his 2016 budget presentation, Jordan said that strengthening governance and judicial institutions “will remain on the front burner.”
He said that several interventions will combine to ensure a “procedural justice system that is fair and accessible to all Guyanese.” He said investors and citizens’ trust in a nation is hinged on the ability of the government “to guarantee good enforcement of rights.”
According to Jordan, “sound and fair laws” coupled with an effective court system promotes a peaceful society and a thriving business atmosphere in which investor security is assured.
“National courts must provide effective judicial protection to all – irrespective of race, creed, gender, societal status, religious persuasion or political affiliation,” he said.
Jordan told the House that the government has been paying increasing attention to reforms intended to improve law and justice institutions.
“Over the medium term, $1 billion will be invested in strengthening the justice sector,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, he said the governance office will collaborate with key rights and state commissions, including the Office of the Ombudsman and the Integrity Commission. He added that the office will also ensure adherence, by Guyana, to our obligations under a number of international human rights treaties and conventions.
“During this year, the governance office will coordinate and fast-track the process for establishing the Public Procurement Commission, and will be proactive in enacting a code of conduct for ministers of government and parliamentarians,” he said, adding that simultaneously, the office will coordinate implementation of recommendations by the steering committee on constitutional reform. The government, he said, has made provision for establishment of a broad-based constitutional reform commission and expects this commission to begin work during this year.
According to Jordan, in keeping with the administration’s commitment to uphold the Constitution with regard to the independence of constitutional bodies, the 2015 Constitution (Amendment) Act 2015 and the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act 2015 were passed and implemented. “These paved the way for the financial autonomy of constitutional bodies, as witnessed by the National Assembly’s approval, on January 7, 2016, of their 2016 budgets ahead of presentation and approval of the national budget,” he said, adding that these agencies will continue to provide annual reports and audited financial statements, in keeping with the reporting requirements under the FMAA 2003. In addition, government will keep under consideration, the creation of a parliamentary budget office to support the functioning of Parliament, he said.
