Guyana Launches First Mental Health Court to Ensure Justice for All
By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
Georgetown, Guyana – In a groundbreaking move to ensure fair and equitable treatment for persons with mental health conditions who encounter the legal system, Guyana officially launched its first-ever Mental Health Court on Thursday.
Delivering the feature address at the launch, Acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire described the initiative as the dawn of a “significant new chapter” in the country’s justice system.
“This justice journey has now embraced therapeutic justice as we strive to be less punitive, while being responsive to the varied challenges persons may face when they come into contact with the law,” the Chief Justice noted.
She explained that the court will not only focus on punishment but also on helping individuals become their agents of change, leading to personal transformation and ultimately benefiting society.
The Mental Health Court services will be rolled out nationally, with courts in Bartica already equipped and New Amsterdam and the Essequibo Coast slated to follow soon. The ultimate goal is to extend these services to all 11 magisterial districts.
Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, emphasized the court’s alignment with the Mental Health Protection and Promotion Act of 2022, a law designed to safeguard the rights and dignity of individuals with mental health conditions.
“This court will help us deal more compassionately and appropriately with defendants whose mental illness may have contributed to the commission of a crime,” the Attorney General said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaborating with the judiciary to establish similar mental health courts throughout the country, ensuring accessible justice regardless of geographic location.
The establishment of this court is part of a broader national push toward mental health reform, reducing stigma and promoting a more humane and supportive judicial process.
