Major upgrades to Judiciary’s infrastructure to be completed this year

An increase in the number of sitting Court of Appeal Judges will be complemented by the physical expansion of the Kingston, Georgetown courthouse – a project which is expected to be completed this year, said Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC.
With $6.2 billion allocated to the Judiciary in the 2023 National Budget, Nandlall, during his contribution to the budget debates, informed the National Assembly of the important projects being embarked upon by the PPP/C Government to ensure the administration of justice.

Currently, construction is ongoing at the Court of Appeal to accommodate another courtroom.
The Court of Appeal has one courtroom and is presided over by acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.
From time to time, the Chief Justice, who is an ex-officio Justice of Appeal, along with High Court Judges, are called, if necessary, for a full bench sitting of the appellate court.
Last month, the Government tabled a Bill to increase the number of Court of Appeal Judges from not less than two and not more than five to not less than five and not more than nine.
This is in light of the shortage of Judges which has been causing a backlog in cases.
Besides infrastructural upgrades to the Court of Appeal, in the North West Magisterial District, the Magistrate’s Court and living quarters in Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) will be finished this year. The same will be done for the Magistrate’s Court and living in quarters at Mabaruma, Region One, the Magistrate Court, and living quarter at Vigilance on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court and the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court, both on the ECD. Over in the Essequibo Magisterial District, will see the completion of the Bartica Magistrate’s Court phase 2 and phase 3, and the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court phase 2.
Work will be done also in extending the living quarters at Lethem Magistrate’s Court.
Also, an extension will be done at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Court to erect a storage bond at that location. The West Demerara Magisterial Court in Wales will be retrofitted and a library and research centre is going to be constructed there.
A Magistrate’s Court and living quarters will be built at Parfaite Harmonie, WBD.
Elevators are going to be installed at the High Court in Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo.
For 2023, new courts will be constructed with living quarters at Timehri, EBD. A new court and living quarters will be constructed at Friendship, EBD, along the intended new highway.
In the Essequibo Magisterial District, a new Magistrate’s Court and living quarters will be built along with an access bridge at Anna Regina.
The Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court is currently housed in a Police station. A marshal bond and document centre will be constructed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. (G1)