Six new Judges were today sworn in before President Irfaan Ali at the Office of the President.
The newly appointed judges are former Registrar of the Supreme Court, Suenna Lovell, former Registrar of the Deeds and Commercial Registry, Azeena Baksh, former Magistrate Sunil Scarce, Attorney-at-Law Mandisa Breedy; former Commissioners of Title, Christel Lambert-Meertins and Renita Singh.
They were all appointed based on the recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission.
In his address, President Ali said the appointment of the six new Judges is a significant development that augurs well for the justice system.
“The swearing in of six more judges today reflects a deliberate and necessary effort to strengthen the capacity of our judiciary to meet the demands of an increasingly rights conscious society where citizens are more aware of their entitlements and more willing to seek judicial redress,” the President said.
Noting that the Executive has fulfilled its Constitutional duty by facilitating the appointments, the President said his Administration is cognizant that a well-resourced judiciary is indispensable to the rule of law.
President Ali said Guyana, like other jurisdictions, has a backlog of cases that must be addressed, as he underscored the importance of timely delivery of judgments.
“Courts around the world as in Guyana are burdened with significant backlogs. We have had tremendous improvements. At the same time, the public is weary of delays, litigants are frustrated by years of waiting, and the credibility of the justice system is strained by the perception that justice is available only to those who can afford to wait. This is not a criticism of the judiciary, but recognition of the challenges that have accumulated over time. The addition of six new judges is a direct response to these challenges. However, the mere presence of additional judicial officers does not by itself cure the ailment,” the President said.
He underscored the importance of fair hearings in the administration of justice, including the right to a hearing within reasonable time.
The President warned that undue delays can constitute a denial of justice, as he urged those appointed to approach their dockets with a sense of urgency, adding that the backlog of cases would not vanish overnight, but every case disposed represents closure for the affected.
The judges were appointed in the presence of the Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Roxane George, the Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh and the Attorney General, Anil Nandllall and other members of the government and judiciary along with family members of the new Judges.
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