The Guyana Government, through the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers, is actively developing sentencing guidelines to ensure consistency in the delivery of judgments. This was disclosed earlier today in the National Assembly when the AG and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall made his contribution to the 2024 Budget Debates.
The issue of inconsistent sentencing, particularly in matters of crime, has been a sore issue for decades. Individuals convicted of similar crimes have receive vastly different penalties, creating disparities in the administration of justice. Lack of specific sentencing standards has contributed to this inconsistency, which had led to a perception of unfairness and erosion of public confidence in the justice system.
Nandlall said today that rolling out of these guidelines is part of a move to strengthen the country’s criminal justice system. Recognizing the public’s outcry for such a measure, the AG noted that the guidelines will bring “uniformity and consistency”.
