Witness location, probes lapse cited as hurdles in criminal prosecutions

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, has reported a significant reduction in the number of criminal cases listed for hearing over the past five years, pointing to sustained efforts by her office to address longstanding backlogs. Her comments were made ahead of the opening of the January Demerara Criminal Assizes 2026, which begins on Tuesday with 126 cases listed to be heard between January and March. According to data provided by the DPP, the number of cases listed for the January assizes has steadily declined since 2022. In January 2020, there were 318 cases listed, increasing to 342 in 2021 and 367 in 2022. The figure then fell to 307 in January 2023, 259 in January 2024, and 134 in January 2025, before reaching 126 in the current assizes period. Ali-Hack said the reduction reflects aggressive efforts by her office to address both backlog and current matters, with the aim of ensuring timely trials in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana. She noted that persons awaiting trial are entitled to have their cases heard within a reasonable time.
The DPP said her office remains committed to further reducing the backlog, describing the process as ongoing. She also indicated that similar efforts are being pursued beyond Demerara, extending to the Berbice and Essequibo Criminal Assizes. While acknowledging the support of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in advancing prosecutions, Ali-Hack highlighted persistent challenges affecting case progression. Chief among these are difficulties in locating witnesses and accused persons who have been granted bail. She explained that in some cases, individuals have relocated or provided incorrect addresses during police investigations, complicating efforts to secure their attendance in court. The DPP stressed that greater attention must be given to verifying the accuracy of addresses at the investigative stage. According to Ali-Hack, accurate information on the whereabouts of witnesses and accused persons is critical to the effective prosecution of criminal cases and remains a key factor in sustaining recent gains in reducing delays.