Supreme Court flags health, space concerns in new strategic plan 

The Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana has identified pressing health and safety issues and cramped workspaces across its court system in its Strategic Plan 2024–2031, highlighting exhausted storage capacity and outdated facilities.
Under the section titled “Enhancing Court Facilities/Infrastructure” (page 34), the Judiciary states that storage space is being exhausted due to the volume of documentation generated and notes that an audit has not been completed since 2014.
The document further acknowledges that “health and safety issues accompany the poor space available per head in the accounting, personnel divisions, and IT divisions.”
As part of corrective measures, the Strategic Plan calls for the implementation of “annual rapid health & safety audits, starting in Georgetown, to offer solutions for short-term, medium-term, and long-term” (page 34).
Additionally, the Judiciary proposes conducting a study to determine the most effective solution for addressing space needs in Demerara. Options outlined include acquiring a completely new complex, relocating all administrative functions to another location, or relocating only the Magistrates’ Courts to a new site.
The Plan also recommends the development of a comprehensive maintenance plan for all courts, construction of additional Magistrates’ courts where required, and improved facilities for attorneys-at-law, including desks and charging ports for laptops.
Health and safety concerns are again referenced in the document’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis section, where the Judiciary lists as a weakness that “health and safety concerns exist due to the lack of adequate space”.
While the Strategic Plan does not indicate structural instability or immediate danger to court users, the concerns raised relate specifically to workspace limitations within administrative divisions and the strain placed on facilities due to increasing documentation and operational demands.
The Strategic Plan outlines the Judiciary’s reform priorities for the period 2024 to 2031 and forms part of broader institutional strengthening efforts across court administration, infrastructure, and service delivery.
The 2026 National Budget has allocated GY$9.3 billion to the expansion and operations of Guyana’s justice system, with a focus on modernising court infrastructure and advancing digital capabilities. The funding is intended to strengthen the judiciary and improve access to justice across the country.
Key allocations include infrastructure development: $2 billion is set aside for construction and rehabilitation projects at courts nationwide; digital transformation: investment will upgrade technology systems within the justice sector to enhance efficiency; and institutional strengthening: funds will support the ongoing modernisation of the Supreme Court of Judicature and associated legal institutions.