In light of the newest confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Guyana, the Supreme Court of Judiciary yesterday updated Emergency Directions for all Courts in Guyana.
The updated directions, according to the Supreme Court’s notice are added to the Emergency directions, Gazetted on March 23rd, 2020, in relation to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and took immediate effect, yesterday.
The notice stated that all ‘in person’ hearings are suspended until further notice, while operation of the Supreme Registries, Court Offices and Departments during the period April 6th- 24, 2020 will be open to the public on the following days from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm: April 7th and 9th, April 14th and 16th, April 20th and 24th.
The filing of urgent matters, or pleadings for the Court of Appeal and High Courts as directed by the court, must be done by Email in accordance with paragraphs 30-33 of the emergency Practice Directions to the following email addresses:
Judicial Registry, High Court, Georgetown – supremecourtguyana@gmail.com
Sub-Registry, New Amsterdam High Court- subregistryberbice@gmail.com
Sub-Regirsty, suddie, Essequibo –subregistryessequibo@gmail.com
Family Court Registry, High Court, Georgetown- regirstryfamilycourt@gmail.com
Land Court, High Court, Georgetown- landcourtgy@gmail.com
Probate Court, High Court, Georgetown- probateregistrygy@gmail.com
Also, in consonance with Part 7:02 of the Civil Procedure Rules, 2016, all fixed date Applications must be served by the applicants. The notice stated that operation of the Magistrates’ Courts Offices during the periods April 6-24, 2020 will be done when the court and Magistrates’ courts offices will be open to the public on the days listed on the table below from 8.30 am -12.30 pm.
The filing of all urgent court matters, the notice said, must be on the dates the court offices will be open. In the event that urgent matters need to be filed on the days when the court offices are not open, contact can be made with the clerks of the court for the particular magisterial districts. Notices with contact information are posted at each court office.
Mediation sessions are also suspended until further notice. Supervised visits at the Child Freiendly Room of the High Court, Demerara, are suspended until further notice, as well. During this period, access visits may be arranged by counsel and/or the parties utilizing the telephone or electronic means such as Whatsapp, Zoom, Facetime and Skype.
Lastly, the notice stated that periodic review and assessment of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic will continue and where necessary, the directions mentioned will be altered. It also advised that for clarifications, queries or additional information on sittings of the courts, person can make contact with the Registrar/ Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, the Chief Magistrate, or the Principal Clerk of Court on telephone Numbers 226-7947 for the High Court, 624-8910 for the Chief Magistrate, 227-1223 for the Registrar Supreme Court, 226-8487 for the Secretary to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, 225-7771 for the Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court and 616-0231 for the Principal of Court.
The open days for courts and telephone numbers to make contact are listed on the table below.
District Days Telephone Number
Georgetown Magisterial DistrictGeorgetown (GMC)Diamond/Golden Grove Mondays and TuesdaysMondays and Wednesdays 225-9110216-0483
Berbice Magisterial DistrictNew Amsterdam Tuesdays and Thursdays 333-2834
Corentyne Magisterial DistrictWhim Mondays and Thursdays 337-2648337-2679
West Berbice Magisteriual DistrictFort Wellington Mondays and Wednesdays 232-0600232-0512
East Demerara Magisterial DistrictVigilance Mondays and Fridays 274-0690
West Demerara Magisteriual DistrictVreed-en-hoop Mondays and Thursdays 264-2359
Upper Demerara River Magisterial District Linden Mondays and Fridays 442-1402
Essequibo Magisterial DistrictSuddie Mondays and Fridays 774-4312774-4373
Rupununi Magisterial DistrictLethem Mondays and Thursdays 772-2334
