Judicial training “very crucial” to fix long-standing weaknesses in justice system – AG

…as acting Chancellor says training will improve case management, speed up criminal hearings

The Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) Regional Programme on Monday opened a four-day judicial training focused on criminal trials and appeals, signaling a continued push to strengthen Guyana’s justice sector and reduce case backlogs. The training, held at the Cara Lodge Hotel, Georgetown is the first of several scheduled for 2026 and marks the fourth such engagement in Guyana under the PACE Justice Project. It specifically targets newly appointed High Court Judges and Justices of Appeal, equipping them with updated knowledge and tools to address evolving challenges in criminal justice.

Delivering remarks at the opening ceremony, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall underscored the significance of the initiative, linking it to broader regional reform efforts supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). “The proposal that has brought us here today is one of the key projects which aligns with the Government of Guyana’s objective to modernise the criminal justice sector,” Nandlall said.
The PACE Justice Programme was developed following a 2020 needs assessment across nine Caribbean territories and incorporates priorities identified by regional Governments. Guyana’s Ministry of Legal Affairs serves as the budgetary agency responsible for ensuring stakeholders benefit from the initiative.

Case backlogs
Nandlall pointed to longstanding issues contributing to case backlogs, including inefficiencies in policing, outdated court systems, and limited digitalisation. “The reasons for these backlogs are numerous, ranging from weaknesses in police capture, outdated court case handling systems and processes, paper-based evidence management systems and limited digitalisation of correction system processes, which contribute to bottlenecks in the work of investigators, prosecutors and courts,” he said. Through the PACE Justice Project, key agencies, including the judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the Ministry of Home Affairs, have received integrated software and hardware to modernise operations. “The hardware ensures documentation for cases, for example the typing of statements for criminal cases, the digitisation of full documents, and the software will facilitate the recording of testimony in Magistrates’ courts and faster communication between agencies,” Nandlall explained.
Apart from infrastructure upgrades, the project has delivered training in areas such as restorative justice, criminal mediation, forensic investigation and digital transformation. The AG noted that the initiative builds on a previous justice reform programme that led to major legislative changes, including plea bargaining laws, the abolition of preliminary inquiries, and the enactment of restorative justice legislation. He emphasised that crime remains a pressing regional concern.
“At the level of CARICOM, crime is now accepted as a public health hazard in the Caribbean,” he said, referencing efforts led by regional leaders, including Barbados Prime Minister (PM) Mia Mottley.
Nandlall also highlighted Guyana’s progress in restorative justice, noting that restorative justice offices have already been established in six of the country’s 10 administrative regions, with plans to expand nationwide by year-end.

Updated legislation in pipeline
Looking ahead, Nandlall outlined additional legislative reforms, including a new Evidence Bill to replace the outdated 1893 Act. “Just the mention of the date would persuade you that it is completely archaic. We have a new bill now, a comprehensive bill that will embrace all the modern and technological advances that have been made. It will allow for the easy admission of evidence of computer-generated documents and films, and all the apparatus and equipment that we use now in our daily lives,” he said. He added that Guyana is also preparing for emerging threats, particularly in cyberspace and organised crime, to address cybercrime, updated legislation in the pipeline money laundering and terrorism financing. “These training sessions are very, very crucial, very timely, and we have to continue to do so. Training can never be a wasteful exercise. No matter how bright we think we are, no matter how educated we think we are, training is always crucial for us to continue to enhance our ability to do that which is our assigned task,” Nandlall stated.

Speed up
Speaking at the opening of the training, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Roxane George, said the programme aims to enhance the efficient management of criminal cases and ensure they are heard by the courts in a timely manner.
“Judicial education programmes will keep them on the cutting edge so that they maintain the high standards of judicial conduct embodied in the code of conduct,” the acting Chancellor said. Meanwhile, EU’s Ambassador to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni, said that building public confidence in the justice system is key to making it more effective. He stressed the importance of safeguarding those involved in legal matters, noting the need for access to justice and protection for victims and witnesses to help strengthen trust in the judicial system.
“So the focus is rather on the issue of trust in the system, empowerment,” the ambassador said.