CEREMONIAL PARADE SIGNALS THE OPENING OF OCTOBER 2022 DEMERARA CRIMINAL ASSIZES
- 307 Criminal Cases to be heard
Georgetown,Guyana:-
A customary Parade was held at the Supreme Court of Judicature also known as the High Court,in the Capital City of Georgetown on Tuesday Morning, October 4th,2022 to launch the final opening of the Demerara Criminal Assizes for 2022.
The Parade took the usual format with the Justice Sector Partners being led by Justice Brassington Reynolds leading the Procession with Officers of the Guyana Police Force following.
The Route of the Parade commenced from the Brickdam Police Station into Croal Street, then into South Road passing by the front of the Supreme Court Judicature, where Justice Brassington Reynolds took the ” March Pass” Salute and subsequently inspected the Guard of Honor.
Justice Reynolds then marched along steadily, in a rhythmic stride, with Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Malcolm Melville and Assistant Police Commissioner Simon McBean who was the Parade Commander. Thereafter, the Ranks on Parade proceeded back onto Croal Street and then into Brickdam.
Participating in the Parade were Ranks of the Tactical Services Unit and the Guyana Police Force Band. The Ranks stood out as they were dressed in their Lilly White ceremonial Uniform.
The last Parade was held back in April during Law Week.
Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George, subsequently speaking with the Media during an Interview, stated that the Session marked the “changeover” or reassignment of Judges to the Three Counties.
Of the 11 Judges, Two Judges are in Berbice who will preside over the Criminal Trials, while the other will preside over the Civil Cases.
The Judge assigned in Essequibo will preside over Criminal and Civil Cases. The Agenda will comprise hearing a Total of 307 Cases for Demerara, which includes 136 Sexual Offence Cases.
Berbice has a Total of 116 Cases listed for the Criminal Session. Meanwhile, Essequibo has about 79 Matters listed.
For Civil Cases, Justice George indicated that 2,246 Cases have been filed in all Three of the Counties to date.
Justice George explained, “The Judges are assigned to the various Counties and Divisions of the High Court and they would preside over these Matters as assigned. The Civil Procedure Rules provide the Mechanisms or the System that is employed for the assignment of Cases for the Judges.
“So, whilst Persons speak of “backlog”, there will be no “backlog” of Cases in the Registry because every Matter must be assigned to a Judge under the Rules, on the Civil side.”
The Chief Justice noted that each Judge presiding over the Criminal Cases is provided with a List. This is dependent on the Chambers of the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) to present those Indictments.
Justice George stated, “Once, they are ready with their Cases, they would indicate to their Trial Judge and they would call their Witnesses and the Case would be dealt with accordingly.”
She highlighted that in the Criminal Cases which commenced on Tuesday,October 4th,2022 the Jurors were in the panelling Session.
“The Jury Panel for the various Courts comes on different Fays. So, we have Two Panels now because Two Judges really will be sitting; Justice Kissoon will be in sitting in the Sexual Offences Court. Justice Morris-Ramlall will be in the general Criminal Court. So, a Jury would have been in the Panel for a Matter, once the DPP Chambers were ready with a Case to present the Indictment.”
Justice George emphasised that, technically, the Court has no control over this, “but once they’re ready with a Case, they will present the Indictment, and the Case is in panelled, and the Evidence is led.”
Importantly, at the High Court level where there are Land Cases, 205 Cases have been filed for Demerara so far for this Year.
Some 275 Cases have been filed for Berbice to date.
