Westminster/Parfaite Harmonie to get Magistrate’s Court

With the aim of enhancing access to the justice system, a new Magistrate Court will be constructed in the densely populated Westminster/Parfaite Harmonie locality, West Bank Demerara in Region

Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
The Attorney General and Legal Affairs Ministry Office on Wednesday revealed that construction is expected to start early next year in the large housing scheme.
The plot of land for the construction of the modern Magistrate Court has already been identified by the Government of Guyana. The facility will be conveniently located adjacent to the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station.
A team comprising of AG and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC; Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal; Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings; Chief Justice (ag), Justice Roxane George, SC; Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and teams from both the Housing Ministry and the Supreme Court conducted a site visit on Wednesday at the location.
In a comment, Attorney General Nandlall indicated that this project is yet another example of constructive engagement and cooperation between the Executive and the Judiciary in their common pursuit to build a modern, competent and efficient justice system, accessible by and to every citizen.
“The other two Magistrates Courts in close vicinity located at Wales and Vreed-en-Hoop, have been overburdened by the appreciable swell in population on the West Bank of Demerara due to new housing schemes established by the Government. This new Courthouse will significantly relieve the burden from the other two Courts,” the Legal Affairs Minister said.

Meanwhile, new Magistrates Courts are also expected to be built at Friendship and Timehri along the East Bank Demerara corridor in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) next year.
Back in April this year, a $37 million new modern Magistrate’s Court was commissioned in Kwakwani, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), which is part of the Upper Demerara River Magisterial District.
Recognising that the stability and strength of the justice sector are paramount to public trust and investor confidence, the Government has set aside $4.5 billion in the 2022 budget to fund various works for advancing the sector.
Of that sum, $1.3 billion will fund the completion of the Port Kaituma, Mabaruma, and Vigilance Magistrates’ Courts.
Additionally, monies were also earmarked for rehabilitation works to be conducted on the Mahdia, Bartica, and Providence Magistrate’s Courts.
Over the years, the Judiciary has been taking steps to ensure that justice is delivered on time regardless of where citizens live by constructing and renovating Magistrates’ Courts.
In 2016, the Judiciary demolished the ageing building which had housed the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court which was situated in the compound of the Sparendaam Police Station. The court was re-commissioned in February of the following year and its quota of magistrates was increased from one to two.
Then in 2017, the Judiciary opened the Upper Demerara Magisterial District – the country’s tenth Magisterial District. Three years later, it commissioned the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). Before that $132 million court was opened, the Providence Magistrates’ Courts had served the entire EBD corridor from Agricola to Timehri.
The Providence Court is currently under massive repair works. (G8)