Guyana highlights case-backlog reduction at regional judicial reform talks

Guyana’s use of plea-bargaining legislation to reduce criminal case backlogs took centre stage when Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, addressed a regional judicial reform conference in Barbados last month.
Ali-Hack participated in the Second Attorney General Regional Roundtable Conference on Advancing Judicial Reform, Regional Collaboration and Backlog Reduction, held on January 22 and 23, where Caribbean justice leaders examined practical solutions to delays within their criminal justice systems.
At the forum, Guyana highlighted the effectiveness of its Plea Bargaining Agreement Act of 2024, which officials said is actively being applied and has resulted in fewer matters being listed during criminal assizes, contributing to faster case resolution.

Speaking on the side-lines of the conference, DPP Ali-Hack described the agenda as “excellently prepared”, noting that discussions were focused on addressing systemic delays to ensure accused persons have their matters heard within a reasonable time.
“It was an excellently prepared agenda which focused on the relevant issues to address the backlog in the criminal justice system so that persons will have their trials within a reasonable time,” she said.
The two-day conference, held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre and sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union, and their Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) project, focused on harmonising criminal justice reform across the Caribbean. Key areas included Judge-alone trials, plea bargaining frameworks, and improved inter-regional cooperation.

Challenges facing Caribbean states
Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP, who accompanied the DPP, presented on regional best practices in witness protection, outlining institutional gaps, legal constraints, and operational challenges facing Caribbean states.
Witness protection frameworks formed a major part of the discussions, with several jurisdictions sharing their legislative experiences. Gang-related crime and prosecution strategies were also examined, with Jamaica outlining its anti-gang legislation and enforcement outcomes.
Legal aid and public defence systems across the region were additionally discussed as part of broader efforts to strengthen access to justice.
The conference brought together senior legal officials, including former Jamaican DPP Paula Llewellyn, CD, KC; Glen Jackson, Director of Jamaica’s Witness Protection Unit; Trinidad and Tobago’s AG John Jeremie, SC; and Justice Mark Mohammed of the Trinidad and Tobago Court of Appeal. Regional security perspectives were provided by Lt Col Kerry Waterman of the Regional Security System (RSS).

Plea-bargaining Act
The regional presentation comes months after Nandlall publicly called for greater domestic use of plea bargaining, expressing concern that the mechanism was being underutilised by attorneys despite its potential to modernise and streamline the courts.
“The lawyers, unfortunately, are not using it. But you can help by reminding the lawyers, in appropriate cases, that they should not consider exploring avenues and opportunities presented by the plea-bargaining act,” the AG told Magistrates during a restorative justice training exercise in Georgetown in November.
Describing the legislation as “a beautiful piece of legislation”, Nandlall said it was crafted through collaboration between the Government, judiciary, Guyana Police Force and the DPP to correct shortcomings that prevented earlier efforts from working.
“We engaged the judiciary. We engaged the Police. And we found out why it never worked. And we corrected those deficiencies,” he said.
Passed unanimously in the National Assembly, the Act allows negotiated pleas that can reduce the need for full trials, incorporates victim impact statements, and establishes safeguards, including legal representation for accused persons and oversight by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Officials say the measure is intended to speed up case resolution while maintaining fairness and accountability within the justice system.