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$3.6B injected into Judicial Reform for 2019

Nov 29, 2018 News

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan has said that Government will be injecting $3.6 billion into the justice sector, in 2019. In his recent budget presentation, the Finance Minister noted that the money will be used to maintain as well as improve the legal system of Guyana
To this end, Jordan noted that the Government will be injecting the monies to represent an increase of 15.8 percent over Budget 2018.
He stated that in 2019, the Government will be among other things expanding legal aid access, including legal assistance in the defence of minor, non-violent offenders, as well as increasing the use of restorative justice.
“With regard to the latter, a draft restorative justice bill has already been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers for review, which emphasises alternative dispute resolution mechanisms which seek to repair the harm caused by criminal behaviour by facilitating constructive mediation between stakeholders.”
“In 2019, we will endeavour to establish a restorative justice office, as well as train around 1,200 persons across the justice sector on restorative justice. With respect to alternative sentencing measures, the Government will be developing judicial policies for non-custodial measures,” the Finance Minister added.
According to Jordan, the State is looking to reduce the pre-trial detention by 5 percent and recidivism by at least 2 percent by 2021.
As such, he explained that the Government is moving to continuously to improve dispensation of justice, with provision being made to add another courthouse in Region One, in addition to the four new courthouses set up in 2018 in Grove/Diamond, Bartica, Mahdia and Kwakwani.
“Additionally, we will support the judiciary as they seek to expand their complement of magistrates and judges, in 2019, and beyond, in support of our collective efforts to reduce the backlog of cases in the courts.
In addition, the Commissioners of the Law Reform Commission are being identified and once fully constituted and operational, the Commission is anticipated to commence its critical role in the updating the laws of Guyana in 2019.”
Alluding to steps taken to reform the judicial system, Minister Jordan noted that within the past year, the unanimous passage of the Juvenile Justice Bill signaled a collective commitment to reform the approach to dealing with the youth citizenry.
The Act updates Guyana’s juvenile justice system to be consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with the aim of guaranteeing juveniles access to legal assistance, re-insertion and diversion programmes, and providing children and adolescents to be accountable for their violations of the law.
The new law incorporates diversionary measures, court appearances, sentencing, a Juvenile Justice Committee and support facilities such as a halfway house.
As such, Jordan said that modern options and alternative measures are being explored prior to committing a child to a detention facility.
“A costing of the implementation of this Act indicates that key cost drivers include training and the establishment of a halfway house, for which we will seek to identify suitable land in 2019,” he added.

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