Judiciary has never been more resourced – PM

…as new Magistrates, Commissioners of Title appointed

Prime Minister (PM) Mark Phillips on Wednesday administered the Oath of Office to five Commissioners of Title and six Magistrates appointed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
During the ceremony, which took place at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), the PM underscored the significance of the appointments, stating that the judiciary has never been better resourced than it has been since the PPP/C administration took office in 2020.
In fact, he underscored the importance of an independent judicial system to any democracy, reaffirming his Government’s commitment to ensuring that Guyana’s judiciary remains fully resourced.
“The executive that I represent here today is largely responsible for providing those resources, and there is no time in the history of independent Guyana that the judiciary of Guyana has been more resourced than the period 2020 to 2026,” the PM remarked.

“In terms of physical infrastructure, more court houses have been built and have been rehabilitated from 2020 to now than in any other period during independent Guyana. In terms of system support, the executive has provided the financial resources for the judiciary to procure the most updated e-litigation system available in the Commonwealth,” he outlined.
With regards to human resources, he noted that the executive has worked with the judiciary over the years to ensure the appointments of key judicial officers.
“For example, in February 2024, nine Magistrates were appointed. In April 2024, three Commissioners of Title were appointed. In June 2024, 10 puisne Judges were appointed. In May 2025, seven Justices of Appeal were appointed. No one can seriously accuse the executive, that is the Government that I represent here today, of not resourcing the judiciary in Guyana,” PM Phillips asserted.
He also emphasised that the Government does not exercise control over the judiciary, emphasising the importance of judicial decisions being made strictly in accordance with the law.
“It is obvious that we do not control the judiciary; we do not determine whom we appoint, we do not determine how they function. The judiciary must remain functionally independent… All the executive asks on behalf of the people of Guyana, whom we are elected to represent, is that the judiciary functions independently, fairly, and makes decisions in accordance with the law. Investors, both local and international, are severely influenced by the state of this crucial arm of Government. After all, the safety of their investments lies with a competent, independent and reliable judiciary,” the PM expressed.

Commissioners of Title
The JSC on Tuesday announced the selection of five legal professionals for appointment as Commissioners of Title to serve in the Land Court. They are Alicia Lowenfield, Annette Singh, Alisha George, Utieka John and Shivani Lalaram. They took their oaths of office before PM Phillips on Wednesday.
Lowenfield previously served as Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court. She obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Guyana (UG) in 2004 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2006.
She was admitted to the Bar of Guyana in 2006 and later to the Bar of Trinidad and Tobago in 2009. Her legal career began as a State Counsel in the Chambers of the Attorney General (AG) of Guyana. She subsequently worked as a Registered Associate Attorney in The Bahamas and later served as a Judicial Research Counsel in the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago before returning to Guyana in 2016 to assume her current position.
George earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from UG in 2007, followed by a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2009. She also completed a Master’s degree in natural resources management in 2025. Before joining the judiciary, George served as Head of the Regulatory Department at Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) and as a State Counsel in the Chambers of the AG. She was appointed a Magistrate in 2014.
Singh obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from UG in 2006 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2009. She began her legal career as a State Counsel in the Chambers of the AG before being promoted to Senior Legal Adviser.
Lalaram obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from UG in 2016 and Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding in 2018. She was in private practice before being appointed to serve in the Magistracy in February 2024. where she has presided in courts in Georgetown and Berbice. She played an integral role in the establishment of a Mental Health Court in Guyana and presided in the Drug Treatment Court.
John obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from UG in 2014 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2016. She obtained a Master of Laws Degree in Corporate and Commercial Law in 2024. She began her legal career at the Chambers of the AG in 2016, where she served as State Counsel until 2019. She was then employed at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, first as legal adviser and then in 2021 as Corporate Secretary/Legal Counsel.

Magistrates
Moreover, the JSC on Tuesday also announced the selection of five persons for appointment to the post of Magistrate. They are Ocelisa Marks, Nikkisha Logan, Jimelle Joseph, Shareefah Parks, Taneisha Saygon and Caressa Henry, who also took their oaths of office before PM Phillips on Wednesday.
Marks obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from UG in 2017 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2019.
Logan obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from UG in 2017 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2019. She further earned a Master of Laws Degree in corporate and commercial law in 2023.
Joseph obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from UG in 2018 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2020.
Parks obtained an Associate Degree in Communications in 2013, a Bachelor of Laws Degree from UG in 2018 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2020. She later obtained a postgraduate diploma in criminology and victimology. She is presently pursuing a Master of Laws Degree in Law and Dispute Resolution at the Robert Gordon University, Scotland.
Saygon obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from UG in 2018 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2020.
Henry obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from UG in 2019 and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2021. She also obtained a certificate in anticorruption and asset recovery in 2025.

Chief Magistrate
Meanwhile, the JSC also announced on Tuesday that Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman has been appointed Chief Magistrate, with effect from January 7.
Latchman obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from UG in 2002 and a Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School in 2004. She was admitted to the Bar of Guyana in October 2004. Her professional journey commenced as a State Counsel in the Chambers of the DPP in 2004, and she was later promoted to serve as a Senior State Counsel in those Chambers in 2008. Latchman joined the magistracy in 2009 and was later elevated to the post of Principal Magistrate in 2017.