By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Revised Laws of Guyana will soon be made available to the public, as President Irfaan Ali announced a series of major legal sector reforms aimed at improving access to justice, strengthening accountability, and modernising the administration of the law.
The announcement was made while the Head of State outlined his administration’s five-year development plan, which places significant emphasis on institutional reform and governance.
President Ali revealed that within one month, the Government will officially launch an updated edition of the Laws of Guyana, revised to cover the period from 2012 up to December 31, 2021. He said the initiative represents a critical step toward ensuring that citizens, legal professionals, and institutions have access to accurate and current legislation.
In addition to the revised laws, the President disclosed that law reports spanning the years 2008 to 2021 will also be released. These reports are expected to strengthen the administration of justice by providing judges, magistrates, and attorneys with access to authoritative judicial decisions that guide legal interpretation and consistency.
According to President Ali, the reforms are designed to make Guyana’s legal framework more accessible and user-friendly, allowing citizens to better understand their rights and obligations while supporting the work of the courts and the wider legal profession.
The President further emphasized his government’s commitment to ensuring a justice system that is predictable, fair, equitable, and transparent. He noted that legislative changes will be introduced to enhance accountability among judges, magistrates, and legal practitioners, including stronger disciplinary mechanisms to ensure timely delivery of decisions and adherence to high ethical standards.
President Ali also highlighted recent progress within the judiciary, disclosing that the High Court has eliminated its backlog of civil cases. He attributed this achievement to the introduction of a paperless system, which has improved efficiency by allowing continuous access to case files and faster case management.
To further support timely justice delivery, the President said additional judicial research assistants are expected to be appointed through the Judicial Service Commission, enabling judges to better manage matters from filing through to final disposition.
The forthcoming release of the revised laws and law reports is expected to mark a significant milestone in Guyana’s legal development, reinforcing transparency, improving public access to legal information, and strengthening confidence in the justice system.
