Latest update June 17th, 2026 12:40 AM
Ministry commences National Legal Awareness
Just a few days after what can be described as a spat between the Minister of Human Services Priya Manickchand and Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh, the Justice Administration System Programme is announcing that much has been achieved over the past three years with regards to the improvement of the justice sector. This is according to a document issued yesterday by Audreyanna Thomas, communications specialist of the Justice Administration System Programme.
In a statement issued to the media, Thomas noted that, “generally, the overarching goal of the programme is to enhance the investment climate and rights enforcement through improved public sector governance. Thus over the past three years of the project implementation, much has been achieved towards that objective.”
In March, 2007, the Government of Guyana and the Inter–American Development Bank entered into an agreement to execute a policy-based component of a programme to improve the justice sector.
The programme proposes to support the Government of Guyana in implementing a series of policy reforms, – including legislative and administrative actions – that are necessary to improve accountability, efficiency and accessibility of Guyana’s justice sector.
The programme, the Modernization of the Justice Administration System is implemented by the Ministry of Legal Affairs and has three sub-components.
The first focuses on enhancing the capacity of institutions within the justice sector. This includes re-organisation of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s Chambers, phasing out of police prosecution, drafting of civil and criminal procedural laws, and institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Legal Affairs. The ultimate goal of this approach is to improve the quality, competence and effectiveness of service delivery in organizations within the sector.
The second entails strengthening systems and linkages among justice institutions. This aspect is concentrated in the areas of monitoring and evaluation within the sector, the Justice Sector Reform System, the importance of periodic surveys for beneficiaries and development of civil and criminal committees.
“This kind of intervention is seen as vital in achieving a more coordinated and integrated sector at various levels – policy, planning and resource allocation,” the release stated.
The third section addresses improving access to justice, which in this context is the ability of people to exercise their rights and resolve their disputes through the justice system, without distinction.
The programme recognizes that over the years there have been a number of challenges in the justice administration system which has impacted on compliance with the ‘rule of law’.
“Hence, it looks at legal aid, informal justice, specifically the development of a paralegal system, revising laws from 1976 to 2006, updating of law reports from 1977 to 2007, strengthening the Legal Practitioners’ Committee, mediation, improving the process for the movement of files in the court system, strengthening the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), reducing the backlog of cases in the High Court, strengthening the administration system in the Courts and building the capacity of Judges and Magistrates,” the release said.
The Ministry has therefore commenced an extensive National Legal Awareness effort to complete the programme, which falls under sub-component three – improving access to justice.
The aim is to create greater awareness and educate members of the public and stakeholders at various levels in the public, private and civil society sectors on the justice sector, as well as rights and responsibilities. Another objective would be to advocate for change in behaviour and towards the ‘rule of law’ by citizens.
Focus would also be on building partnerships and improving relations between the public, private and civil society sectors and the justice sector, in an attempt to develop a better understanding and build trust.
Specifically, the legal awareness will include media relations, community outreach and capacity building sessions for media, public, private and civil society representatives.
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