Govt mulls new buildings in city for High Court, Appeals Court, Magistrates’ Courts

The construction of new judicial buildings in Georgetown to house the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and potentially the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts is being considered by the Government as part of its ongoing and continuous efforts to modernise and expand the country’s justice system.
This is according to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, who disclosed the plans on Tuesday evening during his weekly programme “Issues in the News”.
He noted that the Administration is moving towards the development of a single, modern judicial complex in Georgetown that would physically merge the High Court and the Court of Appeal in one large, purpose-built structure.
According to Nandlall, the proposed complex would be designed to meet modern standards and would include adequate parking and other supporting facilities. He also indicated that the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts may be incorporated into the project, noting that the existing building is no longer sufficient to meet the growing demands of the magistracy.
He announced these plans even as he noted that the Government will be making budgetary provisions in the 2026 National Budget for the construction of new Magistrates’ Courts in Wakenaam, Leguan and Orealla.
“Having built out those courts, we now have to concentrate on a singular model judicial complex in Georgetown that will house the Court of Appeal and High Court in one massive, modern structure with parking facilities, etc. And of course, we have to look at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts because that has also outlived its size,” Nandlall said.
The Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts is currently located on Brickdam and Avenue of the Republic, while the High Court is located at the Avenue of the Republic and South Road, and the Court of Appeal is located in Kingston.
The AG explained that the merging of all of these courthouses forms part of the Government’s wider plan to work closely with the Judiciary to ensure that justice services are accessible and equitable across the country.
He pointed to what he described as a strong alignment between the Executive and the Judiciary, particularly where resources are required to support judicial infrastructure.
“You see an alignment of objectives from the Judiciary as well as the Executive so that when the Judiciary asks for resources for the construction of these courts, the Executive, once affordability permits, has no difficulties in supporting these initiatives,” he said.
Nandlall said the initiatives form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to build on the significant work done over the past five years to construct, renovate, or completely rebuild courthouses, particularly in hinterland and riverine communities.
He emphasised that modern physical infrastructure is a critical component of delivering equitable justice nationwide. Courts across the country, he said, are being outfitted with similar standards of technology and comfort, regardless of location.
“A lot of work was done in that regard over the last five years. We still have a few more outlying courts to construct and/or renovate. We demolish them and build new modern structures,” Nandlall noted.
“The Judiciary and Executive have worked assiduously in building out courthouses right across the length and breadth of our country, in particular in the outlying areas, and equipping those courthouses with all the modern facilities and amenities that technology offers as well as other basic comforts and necessities.

So the court at Mahdia has the same facilities as a court in Georgetown. A court at Port Kaituma has the same facilities as the court at New Amsterdam. You have internet hearings; it’s air-conditioned; you have automatic recordings of evidence and all the amenities in all these courts.”
Beyond physical infrastructure, the Attorney General highlighted that the Government also continues to support the judiciary’s push toward digitisation and improved efficiency. He said the judiciary has already implemented internationally recognised case management systems and has largely moved away from paper-based processes.
“The Government will continue to support the judiciary as it moves into its new age of information, technology and digitisation. In disregard we have case management systems that the judiciary has purchased, of international characterisation, and has been using it. We now have e-filing of cases across the spectrum in the High Court, Full Court, Court of Appeal and Caribbean Court of Justice. We don’t use paper anymore,” Nandlall explained.
He noted that apart from submissions now being filed electronically, many hearings are also conducted via digital platforms. He noted that the digitisation of the Magistrates’ Courts is still a work in progress but is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
Plans are also in place to digitise key supporting agencies, including the Deeds and Commercial Registry Authority and the Land Registry, allowing for electronic filings and payments. Nandlall said these reforms are aimed at creating a justice system that is efficient, transparent and impartial.
“Why are we doing all of this? We’re doing all of this because we want a system that works. We want a system that delivers justice in a uniformed fashion, consistent with law based upon evidence and not upon the whims and fancies of judicial officers. Not based on preconceived concepts, not based on prejudices and biases, but based upon objectivity and the law. And that is all the Executive asks of and from the judiciary, and that is what the people of Guyana must demand from their judiciary,” Nandlall said.