President David Granger, today, officially opened a $143M “state-of-the-art” Grove/Diamond Magistrate’s Court on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).
Formally commissioning the facility, President David Granger said the Coalition is pursuing a policy of Regional development. Easier access to justice, he explained, is part of this effort.
During his address, the president noted that the establishment of the court is “another step in the direction of providing easier access to justice, for everyone, everywhere in Guyana”.
Access to justice is a guiding principle of Guyana’s Judiciary, he said, while adding that the decentralisation of the Magistracy conforms to the government’s policy of extending public services countrywide.
The Head of State noted that the regionalisation of public services – including access to justice – is “imperative” considering the relative vastness of Guyana’s regions, the remoteness of many hinterland communities and the diverse landscapes in which they are located.
“Every citizen, everywhere, is entitled to the protection of the law. He or she can benefit from this protection only if the services of the country’s legal system are accessible. Law binds citizens to society. Law establishes the rules with which citizens are obliged to comply. Law is essential to personal relations, public order and progress. Society would disintegrate into chaos without explicit laws to direct human relations, protect citizens and fetter institutional and executive power,” he said.
Granger noted that access to justice is a public good. He added that an accessible justice system strengthens public security and provides assurances to investors that there would be easy access to settling disputes.
He added that the establishment of this court will ease the caseload which had to be borne by the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
“The East Bank of Demerara corridor – between Mc Doom and Golden Grove villages – has witnessed the development of large housing estates and a consequent surge in population. The new court will improve access to justice for the estimated 70,000 residents of the entire East Bank of Demerara,” he told attendees.
He said that Guyana’s system of justice administration still faces many challenges, but it is becoming more resilient and robust and more responsive to the needs of the people.
“I congratulate the Chancellor and Chief Justice on the establishment of this Court and the pursuit of a policy of improving citizens’ access to justice for everyone, everywhere in the country’s ten Administrative Regions. I am confident that this Court will improve the country’s system of justice administration further,” the president said.
