Legal Affairs Ministry closer to accessing IDB fund for justice system reform projects

Jun 04, 2016 News

The Ministry of Legal Affairs seems to be one step closer to receiving financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the project aimed at strengthening the Criminal Justice System.

Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams

Speaking at a press conference yesterday Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams, disclosed the Ministry has since received a positive feedback from the IDB. This was a recent visit and assessment of the proposal from officials of the IDB.
Williams said, “The IDB process involves various officers of the IDB coming in and engaging (the ministry) on proposed projects and making an assessment on the feasibility vialbility and the like. After they finished their assessment on the last visit the assessment was positive for the Ministry for the various IDB programmes.”
He said that in such cases funding will flow subsequently but there is an agreement to be signed in relation to the criminal justice system.
The Minister said that this is expected to take place shortly since he is in receipt of the document for perusal.
Earlier this year, Minister Williams had outlined a massive plan to reform Guyana’s justice system.
On the issue of capital expenditure for the Justice Sector Programme, the Attorney General had stated that the activities under this programme require hiring and training of personnel, procurement of furnishing andØ equipment for the Law Reform Commission and the drafting of legislation to facilitate the revision of the laws of Guyana and the establishment of the Law Reform Commission.
The training will include aspects for Judges Magistrates and Prosecutors Ø training on evidence gathering, investigations and legislation toØ cover all areas; recovery of assets and the training of Prosecutors, Judges and Investigators on cybercrime legislation as well as training for writing decisions and sentencing guidelines.
The project is also aimed at correction of the deficiency in the system to ensure timely decisions to reduce the backlog in the judicial system; the possibility of the employment of part time Judges (Retired Judges and Senior Practitioners) will be explored.
There will be funding for the acquisition of 10 recording systems—- for Georgetown High Court, the Magistrates Court, the Berbice High Court Berbice and the Essequibo High Court and training of personnel to operate equipment.
This programme will be funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The funds should be made available either late 2016 or early 2017. The sum of $10 million for establishing the project execution unit for the programme will be provided by the Government of Guyana.
The sum of $110 million has been allocated for training, coaching and quality control systems for Crime scene investigations, Criminal case preparations and forensic video procedures and analysis, seminars and coaching in legal knowledge, trial management and use of forensic video evidence for judges, magistrates, prosecutors and provision for equipment and administrative expenses.
The funds will be provided by the Justice Education Society of British Columbia. The project will be concluded next year. The sum of $75 million will be expended this year.