Costing some $294 million—featuring two court rooms, living quarters, drug treatment department, domestic violence room and a modern digital payment system for bail and other fees—the new Vigilance Magistrate’s Court was hailed by the members of the judiciary and magistracy. The court was commissioned on August 16 by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC. Acting Chief Justice Roxane George SC in her welcoming remarks said that the judiciary is on a trajectory of modernizing its courts and services countrywide, while noting that it appreciates the resources provided by government.
She said that this support from the government, enables the judicial arm of the State to carry out its mandate of upholding the rule of law and providing access to justice for all.
Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus was keen in pointing out that the realization of such ventures takes money.
The Chief Magistrate said the venture was made possible in part because of money, through the release of necessary funds to support the construction and outfitting of the facility.
In expressing gratitude to the stakeholders who have all played a role in the construction of the new court and its offices, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus urged them to “let the funds and resources continue to flow our way.”
“It takes money and many other resources to keep the business of justice alive,” she said.
Justice George said that the old building which housed the court at Vigilance, could no longer provide the services necessary and led to what is now the realization of the spanking new facility.
On this point she said that the new edifice “represents the continuing commitment of the Supreme Court of Judicature to being responsive to the needs of the public;” but more particularly to the communities of the East Demerara magisterial district.
Highlighting the features of the new court, Chief Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus said that the facility is “tech savvy, born for this era, and is smart. Very smart, ready to meet the demands of this technological age.”
She said it is well outfitted with a domestic violence room, a survivor’s advocate room, a drug treatment room, housing accommodation for one clerk and two magistrates and two courtrooms which will cater for the hearing of a higher volume of cases.
In congratulating the local judiciary on the achievement, Deputy Resident Representative of UNICEF for Guyana and Suriname, Irfan Aktar, said that as a partner, UNICEF is committed to working closely together with the judiciary and government to ensure access to justice for all, especially vulnerable groups.
In her remarks, acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards, in providing an overview, said that the old court building had been constructed in the 1940s and had “no architectural style.”
She said it was a relatively small and basic wooden structure which suffered from inadequate space for staff, structural stability and was constantly in need of repairs which she said “took a quite a large chunk of our budget.”
In her outline of the cost for the project, the Chancellor said that the National Tender Board advanced $263,519, 670 for the construction.
The furnishing and equipment she said cost $5,725,000 while design and supervision amounted to $35, 479,822.
The total cost is pegged at a $294,724,492.
The contract for building was awarded to contractor, Builders Hardware General Supplies and Construction under the supervision of E&A Consultants.
Attorney General Nandlall in his remarks to the gathering, said that the new edifice represents government’s continued commitment towards partnering with the judiciary in ensuring access to justice for all.
