Guyana: Alternative Dispute Resolution to Help Revamp Justice System

Guyana’s justice sector is undergoing significant transformation with the introduction of alternative dispute resolution methods and streamlined plea bargaining, aiming for greater efficiency and adaptability.
Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C., said several new pieces of legislation have been presented in the National Assembly to achieve this. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Restorative Justice Practitioners Training, at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex in Georgetown, AG Nandlall highlighted the massive benefits that these approaches will have on citizens and businesses.
Last year, the government tabled the Arbitration Bill and the Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion, Plea Agreement, Plea Assistance Agreement) Bill of 2023, taking another tangible step in providing faster and more amicable alternatives to traditional litigation.
Arbitration allows disputing parties to reach an agreement with the help of neutral arbitrators, potentially saving time and money. The bill will allow for top-class arbitrators and companies offering arbitral services to set up in Guyana.
Meanwhile, the revamped Criminal Procedure Bill is designed to tackle the backlog of cases currently straining the system. It will allow for plea agreements to be made between defendants and state prosecutors before a guilty verdict, expediting resolutions and freeing up court resources for more serious cases.
Having been scrutinized for its lacklustre judicial system in the past, these reforms demonstrate Guyana’s commitment to streamlining easier access to resolution disputes; aiming at reducing the level of scepticism and apprehensions that international investors may have.
Over time, this could result in not only greater efficiency but also greater foreign direct investments from smaller companies if they are of the belief that in the event of a local dispute, matters can be resolved quickly and efficiently.

(Source: Guyana Chronicle)