Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Jun 14, 2017 News
The Directions Hearing (D.H) room of the Family Court Division of the Georgetown Supreme Court has been instrumental in resolving a significant number of divorce–related matters.
Within the past year, matters heard via D.H. have ended in settlements, bringing an end to what would have usually been lengthy divorce trials.
During a recent interview with this newspaper, Family Court Judge Sandra Kurtzious explained that of all the matter filed within the past year, only four are pending trial.
“All the others were resolved by way of Directions Hearings.”
According to Justice Kurtzious, the D.H room provides an opportunity for issues to be ventilated outside the courtroom setting.
The Family Court Judge explained that the mechanism is useful, particularly in cases of divorce.
What happens in this setting provides an opportunity for direct discussions between the parties involved, their legal teams and the Judge.
Justice Kurtzious noted that under this arrangement, the husband and wives are priority.
The Judge said further that the D.H room provides a completely different layout than the courtroom. She explained that “in a courtroom setting a lot of times, the husband or the wife may want to speak, but they are not allowed to address the court …..But with directions hearings, the parties no longer feel marginalised.”
“With the Judge as the mediator they can speak freely without the aid of their attorneys. They are allowed to vent. They feel empowered and they are allowed to cry… and not just the women cry, the men too.”
Justice Kurtzious noted that the aim of the Court in this regard is to have parties discuss and decide where they want to take their lives.
“And most times, the hearing would end with the parties wanting to settle before going to trial.”
Additionally, the Judge explained that much like other fixtures, under the new rules with directions hearings from the time the matter is filed, a date is fixed for the matter to be heard, thereby expediting the process.
Since it became operational approximately one year ago, the Family Court Division of the High Court has transformed the judicial landscape to cater specifically to the needs of the family
Within the first six months of operation, 529 matters were filed at the Family Court. Of those cases, 83 were resolved; 18 were dismissed or withdrawn; 183 are Interim Nisi Orders; 237 are still pending and eight were struck out.
Divorce proceedings accounted for 92.2 % of the matters filed at the Family Court Division of the Georgetown Supreme Court. That percentage represented 413 cases.
Almost on a daily basis, the Family Court caters to the needs of those seeking relief in issues of divorce, division of property, legal maintenance, custody and guardianship.
Under the Family Court rules, the Division provides a balanced setting for these issues to be adequately aired out.
The rules which govern the court, allow for efficient case management practices to ensure that matters which deserve the attention of the courts receive the necessary attention, resulting in the timely resolution of such matters.
Clause 2.6(1) of the rules states that the court may deal with a case at any place that it considers appropriate.
“This is applicable even to children involved in a family dispute. The rules are sensitive and try to remain applicable to different situations and facts which may arise from each particular case brought before the bench.”
Additionally, the court seeks to promote the overriding objective of ensuring that parties are on equal footing and not prejudiced by financial positions.
Since its establishment, the division has been outfitted with a Childcare and Protection Officer, personnel who can assist persons with walk-in procedures, and a childcare room and staff. The court currently has a full complement of staff, a Registry and is operated under selected Judges.
The infrastructure to accommodate the Family Court Division was completed under the previous administration.
The idea towards this specific project was spawned during the time of the PPP administration by the then-Social Services Minister, Priya Manickchand.
During her tenure, Manickchand had posited that the court was necessary, after observations were made that Guyanese families were suffering from societal demoralisation.
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