Judicial Officers are currently undergoing four days of training on Criminal Trials and Criminal Appeals as part of the Partnership of the Caribbean and European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) Regional Programme.

Hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the European Union (EU), the high level training programme has brought together Judges from both the High Court and Court of Appeal with the aim of strengthening institutional capacity and improving access to justice.

The training programme covers a range of topics including jury selection and orientation, pre-arraignment issues, complex criminal trials, no case submissions, vulnerable witnesses and defendants, voir dire, DNA evidence, digital evidence and artificial intelligence among other critical topics.

In her address during the opening ceremony of the Judicial Training Programme at Cara Lodge this morning, Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Roxane George, said the training programme will further enhance the capacity and capability of judges to address criminal cases in keeping with Article 144 of the Constitution, which mandates a fair hearing of cases within a reasonable timeframe.

“The strategic plan of the Supreme Court of Guyana emphasizes continuing judicial education and the implementation of performance standards so as to ensure an effective and efficient judicial system. With the judiciary of Guyana having become a member of the International Consortium for Court Excellence, judicial education programs such as this will keep us on the cutting edge so that we maintain the high standards of adjudication and judicial conduct that are embodied in the code of conduct for judicial officers of Guyana and the international framework for excellence,” the Chancellor said.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall, in his address, said the PACE Justice Project is among initiatives that are aligned with the Government’s mission to modernize the Criminal Justice Sector.

It was noted that the programme is timely and that it places heavy focus on improving efficiency and reducing delays and the backlog of cases.

“The PACE Justice Project aims to support national authorities to reduce current, and prevent future backlogs of criminal justice cases in Guyana. The reasons for these backlogs are numerous ranging from weaknesses in police data capture, outdated court case handling systems and processes, paper based evidence management systems and limited digitalization of correction system processes, which have contributed to bottlenecks in the work of investigators, public prosecutors and the court,” he explained.

The Attorney General said the judiciary has benefited from US$400,000 worth of IT equipment and software through the PACE programme.

UNDP Representative, Katy Thompson explained that the training programme forms part of a larger US$10 million Regional programme, from which Guyana is receiving GY$186 million to improve access to justice.

Thompson explained that in addition to the training, the project focuses on restorative justice, forensic and criminal investigation, among other key areas.  

“We’ve been training on case management, on forensics and criminal investigation training for police officers, and these efforts have all collectively combine with today’s or this week’s training and to really further enhance justice sector effectiveness and really to enable you all to better execute your responsibilities in delivering access to justice,” the UNDP Representative said.

Head of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni was among other officials present at the opening ceremony.

The four-day training programme will see presentations from Jurist and former President of Trinidad and Tobago, Paula-Mae Weekes; Charge d’Affairs of the High Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, Candice Shade; President of the Court of Appeal of Turks and Caicos Islands, Alice Yorke-Soo; and Justice of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago, Justice Mark Mohammed.

The training programme wraps up on Thursday.

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