President Granger calls for non-discriminatory admissions to regional law schools
─ 50th Meeting of Council of Legal Education opens
DPI, Guyana, Friday, September 7, 2018
President David Granger today said the Council for Legal Education should seek new ways of improving access to, and delivery of, affordable legal education to all corners of the Caribbean region.
Addressing the opening of the 50th Meeting of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) at the Marriot Hotel today, President Granger called on the CLE to ensure non-discriminatory admissions to the regional law schools.
“Guyana’s need for a greater number of practitioners cannot be satisfied with the present quota it has imposed on our students of our regional law schools. Guyana looks forward to the Council of Legal Education to facilitate the education of more specialised legal practitioners in the Caribbean and of course, Guyana,” the Head of State told the gathering of legal luminaries.
Currently, Guyana is allowed a quota of 25 students to pursue studies at the Hugh Wooding Law School.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC., weighed in the matter, noting that each year, Guyanese law students are faced with an enormous financial burden of fees amounting to $98,000 TTD.
The AG noted: “Our students simply cannot afford this high cost and therefore are deterred from a legal career. As Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, I have received many calls and visits from students who have excelled at the undergraduate level but because of cost cannot complete their legal education.”
He said although the government assists with 25 percent of the cost, the balance remains a hurdle.
This is the fifth time the CLE meetings are being hosted by Guyana. Previous meetings were held here in 1975, 1981, 1987 and 1994.
By: Alexis Rodney.
Images: Keno George.