The historic Criminal Law Procedure (Paper Committals) Bill 2024, which seeks to abolish traditional preliminary inquiries (PIs) in Guyana’s criminal justice system was passed in Parliament yesterday.
In moving the second reading of the bill, Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC said the move is aimed at streamlining the process and reducing the lengthy delays that often plague the system.
Under the current system, a preliminary inquiry is conducted before an indictment can be made, where prosecution witnesses are required to testify and be cross-examined by the accused or their lawyers. The evidence is then reduced to a written deposition, which is presented to the court. However, this process has been criticized for being lengthy and inefficient, often resulting in accused persons being remanded for extended periods without a trial.