-president hopes for reduction in backlog of cases
Ten new puisne judges were sworn in by President Irfaan Ali yesterday, the Department of Public Information (DPI) stated yesterday.
The President spoke of the significance of the occasion, noting that eight out of the ten new judges are women, bringing the total representation of women in the judiciary to 70 per cent.
“Today is a moment of global positioning for the judiciary of Guyana. It is the largest ceremony to bring in our new batch of judges since our independence. Eight of the ten who took the oath today are women,” the president observed. He highlighted that the elevation of women in society and their role in the judiciary should be intentional, not merely statistical.
The newly appointed puisne judges are: 1) Nicola Pierre, 2) Joy Persaud-Singh, 3) Hessaun Sharifa Yasin, 4) Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, 5) Deborah Kumar-Chetty, 6) Priscilla Chandra-Hanif, 7) Jacqueline Josiah-Graham, 8) Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, 9) Nigel Niles, and 10) Peter Hugh.
Given these new appointments, the president voiced his expectation that the judiciary will operate more efficiently, reducing the backlog of court cases. He urged the judges to maintain impartiality and set legal precedents in their rulings. He also warned that their new roles will test their mettle.
“Practice and application of theory is going to be a new dimension of your job that will test your capability, your character, and your resilience. It will test every fabric of your being.”
The Head of State also reminded of the evolving nature of legal challenges in Guyana, particularly with the growth of sectors like oil, gas, and maritime, which will bring forth industrial and environmental cases. As such, he called on the judges to factor the nation’s development in their decision-making process, noting the importance of staying informed about the country’s economic and legal landscapes.
“Because of the changes that are taking place around the country, the financial architecture of the country and its positioning… all of it the judiciary must be aware of, because in your line of work, reading is compulsory,” Ali stressed.
