Newly appointed Justice of Appeal promises objective judicial reasoning

Georgetown, GINA, July 26, 2013

 

With 25 years of legal practice in the United Kingdom, Guyanese born Justice Rabi Shankar Sukul will be working to augment the local justice sector following his appointment as a Justice of Appeal today.

He took the oath of Office before President Donald Ramotar in the presence of his spouse, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Carl Singh, Director of Public Prosecution Shalimar Ali- Hack among others.

Justice Rabi Shankar Sukul takes the oath as a Justice of Appeal before President Donald Ramotar

The 60- year old jurist said, “I intend to apply the legal principles, apply law logic and good sound objective judicial reasoning which I have learnt and practiced in the United Kingdom,” Justice Sukul said in an invited comment to the media.

In a brief charge to the newly appointed Justice of Appeal, President Ramotar who has often been bemoaning the heavy backlog of cases facing the judiciary over the years expressed the hope that his duties reflect, fairness and expeditiousness.

Cognisant that the shortcomings of the local judicial system are not unlike other jurisdictions where criticisms have been heavy, Justice Sukul said he will do all in his powers to “minimise that effect.”

The expectation of the Chancellor of the Judiciary about the newly appointed jurist was similar as he urged; “hard work and a dedicated contribution to the development of our country’s jurisprudence.”

 

“It requires an aptitude, it requires careful consideration of the issues that are before the court… and of course the ability to research and apply the law to the issues that confront us in our deliberations,” Justice Singh explained.

President Donald Ramotar presents Justice Rabi Shankar Sukul his document following his swearing-in as a Justice of Appeal

The judicial sector has come a far way especially with undertakings to modernise the system through legislative amendments, the appointment of new judges to buttress the complement of jurists needed to preside over cases pending cases, extensive renovations to the DPP’s Chambers, strengthening of both state and police prosecutors through training in criminal matters like narcotics, smuggling, cyber crime and other criminal offences.

 

Online access to Guyana Law Reports and the launch of an informal justice initiative in rural communities that provides an alternative to the formal justice system have also been accomplished.