Specialised drug court launched; offenders can now choose prison or treatment

– participants to undergo counselling, random drug tests, among other measures

By Jarryl Bryan

A specialised drug offences court, the first of its kind in Guyana, was commissioned with the backing of multiple stakeholders on Monday, with Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonnette Cummings-Edwards explaining that drug offenders will now be given a choice to fix their lives.

The new court will be housed in the lower flat of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, at the Brickdam entrance. It will feature a drug treatment team that includes Magistrates, State Counsels, a legal aid attorney and a probation officer.
In explaining how it works, Chancellor Cummings-Edwards noted that offenders will get to choose to do community service or enter a drug rehabilitation programme. She noted that participants first have to sign an agreement, which binds them to follow certain rules including regular attendance of the programme and submitting to random drug tests.
“Once the offender comes to the court, and the offender pleads guilty or is found guilty by the Magistrate, that offender is provided with the option to accept a custodial sentence or to enter a treatment programme which the drug court provides, as an alternative to incarceration.”

“Participation in that treatment programme is voluntary… the programme will provide treatment tailored to the needs of the participants. Some of the key interventions are educational sessions, one to one counselling, group counselling, treatment recovery plan, reintegration, post-graduation plans.”

She cited the Phoenix Recovery Centre and the Salvation Army as two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) that are providing their services to ensure the rehabilitation of these drug users.
According to the Chancellor, the court will also work alongside these organisations to ensure the success of the programme. Edwards also explained the disadvantage of incarcerating drug users without addressing the underlying issues.
“We have come to the realisation that many offenders have a substance use disorder. Some even have mental health disorders. The grim reality is when these offenders are charged and found guilty, they’re likely to be incarcerated.”
“While in prison, the drug problem remains. When they’re discharged, they go back to base as before. And then reappear in the courts with similar offences and are labelled recidivists,” she said.

Rehabilitation

The question of whether offenders can indeed be rehabilitated was answered by Organisation of American States (OAS) representative to Guyana, Jean Ricot Dormeus, who played a key role in collaboration with the Government in implementing the drug rehabilitation court. He noted that Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, recently highlighted cases of rehabilitated prisoners.
“I discussed the topic with Director Samuels. And he referred to several rehabilitation successes, including a man I met afterwards. He was deported from Canada, went through a hard rending lifestyle in Guyana, served jail time. He has been rehabilitated and is currently supporting the Ministry of Health. Can we achieve rehabilitation? Of course.”
“As I was visiting [Phoenix home], I met a woman who fell into the grips of addiction. As a result, her family became dysfunctional, she engaged in [a destitute] life for 17 years, even sleeping on the tombs of Le Repentir Cemetery. After an old friend would not give up on her and took her to Phoenix, she was rehabilitated and is now helping others get their lives back.”
He spoke of another individual who holds a Master’s Degree, lectured and even worked on Wall Street, the United States’ financial capital. According to Ricot Dormeus, this man too fell into addiction.
“He was deported to Guyana and led a [destitute] life for many years. His sisters signed him up for rehabilitation. After a long struggle and several relapses, he got rehabilitated. Now, he’s coaching addicts on how to overcome their plight and again become worthy members of society.”
Earlier this year, a United States (US) State Department report had declared that while Guyana has a comprehensive drug demand reduction strategy, the use of drugs like marijuana and even cocaine is a growing domestic problem.
According to the report, marijuana is the most commonly used drug. The document also reported seizures of synthetic drugs like Methylene-dioxyamphetamine (MDMA), most commonly known as “ecstasy”, and detailed Government’s response to the scourge.