More training needed for Magistrates as mental health court launches – Chancellor

Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, has announced that more assistance is needed to provide specialised training for Magistrates as Guyana prepares to fully utilise its new Mental Health Court.
Several Magistrates have already received specialised training in preparation for Guyana’s new Mental Health Court, with further support expected to expand capacity in the near future.
Justice Cummings-Edwards made the announcement during the official launch of the court on Thursday.
The training aims to equip Magistrates with the skills and knowledge needed to implement restorative justice practices, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration rather than punishment.
These efforts are supported by initiatives such as the Canadian-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism (CCEDM) and align with the Government’s broader push to institutionalise restorative justice across the judicial system.
These training programmes aim to equip them with the necessary skills to apply the Restorative Justice Act of 2022 and to modernise the legal framework. The training is part of broader efforts to improve the administration of justice and reduce the prison population.
“Each year, the RISE Programme offers specialised training in mental health and substance abuse. I recall various persons coming to our rescue with the training of six of our Magistrates—three of them under the specialised programmes, the Caribbean Basin Initiative—and the team at the US (United States) Embassy here in Georgetown making it happen just for us. This year, six of our Magistrates were trained, and next year, the remainder of our Magistrates will be trained,” she stated.
Justice Cummings-Edwards noted that Guyana has more than 20 Magistrates, and the plan is to train all of them, with additional assistance being requested to complete this process. She emphasised that training alone is not enough, and highlighted the importance of networking.
“We have more than 20 Magistrates. And if I say the remainder will be trained, it means that we are asking again for assistance in training all of them. The training alone was not sufficient—networking was important. Our staff members who attended the RISE Programme, the iconic RISE Programme—it’s an annual training programme—formed networks with other judges in the US, particularly in Colorado and in Atlanta,” she said.
She also noted that they teamed up with Bermuda, and on that note, she thanked Chief Justice Larry Wilson of Bermuda, Justice Ron Wolf, and Chief Magistrate Maxine Anderson for “spending precious time to discuss with us all the issues and challenges involved in a mental health court and sharing with us their best practices.”
The Mental health Court was officially launched on Thursday to create an enabling environment for individuals charged with offences who have been assessed as experiencing mental health challenges.
Launched shortly after the recent opening of the Children’s Court at the Charity Magistrate’s Court in Region Two, the Mental Health Court is another progressive step in Guyana’s evolving judicial landscape.
Additionally, social services officers are set to work closely with a multidisciplinary team to provide vital resources and support to individuals navigating the justice system through this court.