As Guyana takes steps to strengthen the local judiciary, and fill gaps within the system, five new Commissioners of Titles, and six new Magistrates were sworn in today before Prime Minister, Mark Phillips at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC).

The Commissioners of Title –Alicia Lowenfield, a former Deputy Registrar; Annette Singh; Alisha George and Shivani Lalaram, all whom served as Magistrates; and Attorney-at-Law Utieka John will serve in the country’s Land Court.

Attorneys Ocelisa Marks, Nikkisha Logan, Jimelle Joseph, Shareefah Parks, Taneisha Saygon, and Caressa Henry are the six new Magistrates, and will serve in the country’s Magisterial districts. 

While underscoring the importance of an independent judiciary, Prime Minister Phillips said the Executive expects the judicial officers to be both effective and efficient in the administration of justice in the country.

“The judiciary must remain functionally independent. It is a fundamental institutional concept which we embrace. All the Executive ask on behalf of the people of Guyana, whom we are elected to represent is that the judiciary functions independently, fairly and make decisions in accordance with the law,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Phillips said for its part, the Executive continues to ensure that the Judiciary is adequately resourced.

“An independent judiciary is the bulwark of any democracy. The most fundamental component of an efficient judiciary is that it must be resourced. The Executive…is largely responsible for providing those resources, and there is no time in the history in independent Guyana that the Judiciary of Guyana has been more resourced than the period 2020 to 2026. In terms of physical infrastructure more court houses have been built and are being rehabilitated from 2020 to now than in any other period during independent Guyana. In terms of system support, the Executive has provided the financial resources for the judiciary to procure the most updated e-litigation system available in the Commonwealth. Today, litigation in Guyana is almost wholly electronic in the High Court,” the Prime Minister said.

It was noted that the Government has also been working with the Judiciary to ensure the appointments of the greatest number of judicial officers from 2020 to present.

“For example in February 2024, nine magistrates were appointed. In April 2024, three Commissioners of Title were appointed. In June 2024, 10 puisne judges were appointed. In May 2025, seven Justices of Appeal were appointed. No one can seriously accuse the Executive, that is the Government that I represent here today, of not resourcing the Judiciary in Guyana,” the Prime Minister said.

The judicial officers were sworn in following their appointment by the Judicial Service Commission.

On Tuesday, the Judicial Service Commission also announced the appointment of Zanna Frank to the post of Registrar of Deeds of the Deeds Registry with effect from July 1, 2026 and Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman as the new Chief Magistrate. Her appointment dates back to January 2025.

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