New modernised wing on Court of Appeal commissioned

…judiciary looking to implement electronic payment system

In a stride towards efficient court proceedings coupled with modern technology, a state-of-the-art new wing for the Court of Appeal was on Monday commissioned.
The new wing features a courtroom, judges’ chambers, a conference room, a lounge, a library, is outfitted with built in modern equipment among other facilities.
Chancellor (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards during the unveiling of the plaque ceremonial cutting of the ribbon to commission the facility at High Street-Kingston, said that the courtroom has long been needed to carry out various tasks, given the significant rise in cases and the imperative need for modernisation.

“There became a need for another court room as the old one could no longer supply for the volume of the number of cases heard by the court. The number of cases has grown exponentially and as such the court offices had to be expanded,” she explained.
Alongside the ongoing progress of modernised facilities created in the judiciary, Justice Edwards also took the time to reveal that through continued collaboration the judiciary is hoping to soon implement an electronic payment system. which will foster easier transactions.

“We are extremely hopeful that with the continued cooperation of the Finance ministry we will in the soon future implement an electronic paying system to receive payments form litigants and lawyers and effect transfers to the consolidated funds,” she revealed.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice, Justice Roxane George, who was also present at the event revealed that this implementation has marked a significant step as the last court room was situated in close proximity of a car park and there was not enough space for staff.
Additionally, she said that this new court room has been built in a timely manner having seen the exponential growth of the country and the court must be needed during this time.

“In the old court room, there were hardly any facilities for our administration staff, and we needed extra facilities, with the economic rise within our country it shows the need for more matters to be dealt with for more cases, whether it be commercial civil and environmental the need is there for those cases to be heard,” she said.

According to the judge, these cases must be carried out in a way that it is conducive to Guyana’s environment as the mission of the court is to uphold the rule of law and to provide access to the timely rule of justice in a fare transparent and efficient manner
Meanwhile as development within the Judicial system flickers in many directions due to the progressive work of the government, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Mohabir Anil Nandlall, who also spoke said that the Mahdia Supreme Court’s building will soon be commissioned.
“We shall soon commission the Mahdia Supreme Court, when we say that there is a physical transformation taking place within Guyana, we do not only mean from an executive perspective but from transformation standpoint as well as every sector of our country will be enhanced, he stated whilst then further underscoring that the judiciary will never be left out of the governments plans as they will be partnering with them again to provide the most advanced reputable facilities,” AG said. (G2)