Supreme Court Registry closes until May

…as Court updates COVID-19 practices

The Supreme Court of Judicature has updated its practice protocols as the cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to rise in Guyana. This time, the Court announced the closure of its Registry until May 4, 2020.
According to a statement, operations at the Supreme Court Registry in Georgetown, Demerara and the Sub-Registries at New Amsterdam, Berbice and Suddie, Essequibo, are suspended until April 30, 2020. Unless otherwise advised, these Registries will reopen to the public on Monday, May 4, 2020.
The Court is advising that filing of urgent matters, or pleadings for the Court of Appeal and High Courts as directed by the Court until May 3 must be done via email. Those emails can be sent to the Judicial Registry, High Court, Georgetown, Demerara – [email protected]; Sub-Registry, New Amsterdam, Berbice, High Court – [email protected]; Sub-Registry, Suddie, Essequibo, High Court – [email protected]; Family Court Registry, High Court, Georgetown – [email protected]; Land Court, High Court, Georgetown – [email protected]; and Probate Registry, High Court, Georgetown – [email protected].
Additionally, litigants and/or their counsel must file an undertaking to present hard copies of their matters and pay the requisite filing fees on the date designated by the Registry, which shall be on or after May 4, 2020.
The statement noted that in relation to the operation of the Magistrates’ Courts offices during the period April 6 – April 30, 2020, the following measures will be put in place:
* Magistrates will be holding court utilising electronic means – Zoom, Skype or Whatsapp video – and Magistrates’ Courts’ offices will be open to the public on the following days from 08:30 am – 12:30 pm.
* Georgetown Magisterial District – GMC – Mondays and Thursdays
* Georgetown Magisterial District – Diamond/Golden Grove – Mondays and Wednesdays
* Berbice Magisterial District – New Amsterdam, Tuesdays and Thursdays,
* Corentyne Magisterial District –Whim, Mondays and Thursdays,
* West Berbice Magisterial District – Fort Wellington, Mondays and Wednesdays,
* East Demerara Magisterial District – Vigilance, Mondays and Fridays,
* West Demerara Magisterial District – Vreed-en-Hoop, Mondays and Thursdays,
* Upper Demerara River Magisterial District – Linden, Mondays and Fridays,
* Essequibo Magisterial District – Suddie, Mondays and Fridays
* Rupununi Magisterial District – Lethem, Mondays and Thursdays
Filing of all urgent court matters must be on the dates the court offices will be open. In the event that urgent matters need to be filed on the days when the court offices are not open, contact can be made with the Clerks of Court for the particular Magisterial Districts. Notices with contact information are posted at each court office.
Periodic review and assessment of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic will continue and where necessary, these directions will be altered.
For persons seeking clarification, queries or additional information on sittings of the courts, contact can be made with the Registrar/Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, the Chief Magistrate, or the Principal Clerk of Court on telephone numbers:
High Court, Demerara – 226-7947; Chief Magistrate – 624-8910; Registrar of the Supreme Court – 227-1223; Secretary to the Registrar of the Supreme Court – 226-8487; Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court – 225-7771; Principal Clerk of Court – 616-0231.
Or by email to: Registrar of the Supreme Court – [email protected]; Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court [email protected]; Supreme Court COVID-19 Response Team – [email protected]; Chief Justice’s Chambers – [email protected]; Court of Appeal – [email protected].