Guyana’s Attorney General Anil Nandlall announced on Thursday a sweeping modernization initiative for the nation’s justice system, with particular focus on establishing a formal regulatory framework for jury operations—a system currently operating without statutory foundation.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the delivery of US$400,000 in information technology equipment to key justice institutions, Nandlall revealed ongoing discussions with Chancellor of the Judiciary Roxane George-Wiltshire to develop comprehensive jury regulations. “The Chancellor and I are discussing some type of framework to regulate juries and the way juries function,” Nandlall stated, acknowledging that Guyana currently operates without the formal jury systems common in other jurisdictions.
The technology transfer, facilitated through the Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union (PACE) Justice Project, will bolster the capabilities of multiple agencies including the judiciary, Director of Public Prosecutions’ Chambers, Guyana Police Force, and forensic services. Chancellor George-Wiltshire confirmed that eight additional Liberty court recording systems would join recently acquired equipment, bringing the total to 18 courtrooms equipped with modern recording technology. “These systems will definitely enhance court efficiency. A modern judiciary requires clear and reliable systems to ensure a secure official record of court proceedings,” she emphasized.
Nandlall identified critical gaps in Guyana’s current jury system, noting the absence of standardized procedures for juror oaths, protection mechanisms, exemption protocols, transportation expenses, and overnight sequestration arrangements. He further highlighted that dozens of new companies and agencies remain excluded from the jury pool, necessitating comprehensive reform.
Beyond jury reform, the Attorney General outlined additional legislative modernization efforts, including plans to replace the 1893 Evidence Act inherited from British colonial rule—legislation he described as “clearly out of sync with modern realities.” Additional initiatives include legislation enabling judge-alone trials, completion of an Alternative Sentencing Bill, and review of the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act to eliminate outdated provisions. “We don’t necessarily have to wait for the judiciary to strike them down as unconstitutional or as outmoded. We can aggressively and proactively do that,” Nandlall asserted, indicating planned tabling of relevant legislation in the National Assembly.