Modern system launched for Magistrates’ Courts in Guyana

Guyana’s judicial system on Tuesday launched its advanced electronic case management systems across the Magistrates’ Courts. The launching ceremony occurred at the Diamond/Grove Magistrates’ Court, East Bank of Demerara.
Embracing the global shift towards technology in the legal domain, Guyana’s courts geared up for this transformation with the launch of this initiative. The court is now the first in the country to utilise a sophisticated electronic Court Case Management System (CCMS).
Chief Justice Roxane George during the launching on Tuesday said the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana is on a transformational trajectory in terms of the utilisation of technology to advance the efficiency of the administration of justice in the courts. She said the launch represents tangible evidence of their commitment in this regard.

“Our system is an end-to-end integrated system, starting with the filing of cases by the Police, to the receipt of orders of the court by the prison service…the Police Force and the prison service will be integrally involved in the operation of the system,” she said.
Justice George shared that the pilot Electronic Case Management (ECM) system for the Diamond Magistrates’ Court serves as the hub for this technological framework. A feasibility study was done by a consultant from the United States, which facilitated this project.
In February 2021, the US Embassy in Georgetown explained that the development of this automated court case management system would help Guyana’s Judiciary ensure criminal cases were handled expeditiously, reduce the case backlog, and increase public trust and confidence in the justice system.
The court case management system will utilise a shared, open-source, and cost-effective technology to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Judges and court staff by automating document production, improving processes, and facilitating data sharing.

The US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs supported this project, and the National Center for State Courts was directly involved in the implementation stage alongside the Judiciary of Guyana. It was noted that some US$400,000 was invested in the development of the system.
The Guyana Judiciary is part of the worldwide shift to the use of technology in courts and has participated in a host of international Court Technology Conferences over the past two years.
The Judiciary has been the beneficiary of a host of programmes funded by various bilateral partners of Guyana.
Under the Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Project – a multi-year (2014-2023) regional Caribbean judicial reform initiative funded under an arrangement with the Government of Canada – Guyana has received 10 digital court recording units along with other equipment.
Additionally, the JURIST Project was instrumental in aiding the local Judiciary in its public education campaign during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to inform the public of the court’s operations.

Actively pursuing
Meanwhile, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, expressed that the Government is actively pursuing the replacement of manual transactions with digital processes within the Central Government’s administrative infrastructure. He outlined the implementation of a single window initiative aimed at streamlining the current 20-agency process into one cohesive system.
“The single window initiative collapses that 20-agency process into one… you submit all the other applications that are required for the particular permissions that you need at one office, that single window unit, and a time will be ascribed for you to return to that unit for your approval,” he said.
Anticipating success, he spoke about plans to replicate the initiative across the country’s other Magistrates’ Courts, creating a uniformly designed management information and case filing system throughout the judicial system. Nandlall acknowledged the global trend toward such digital transformations and highlighted Guyana’s capacity to swiftly progress in this direction due to improved financial and economic conditions.
The Attorney General underscored the Government’s recognition of the significance of a modern and efficient judicial system, affirming ongoing support for the Judiciary’s pursuit of this goal.
Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, echoed this commitment, emphasising the Judiciary’s dedication to executing its mandate with excellence.
“We are in the 21st century, with an ever-increasing demand for justice. Modernity, increased trade, increased growth and commerce, and all that go along with it dictate that we up our game. They dictate that we do our job efficiently and effectively,” she underscored.
The launch ceremony featured a live demonstration of the Case Management System, showcasing its capabilities. As Guyana embraces this technological leap in the legal domain, the Magistrates’ Courts are poised for a new era of efficiency and accountability, contributing to a more robust and transparent justice system for all. (G9)