Sod turned for construction of $132M Diamond/Grove Magistrates’ Court

March 12, 2018

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DPI, GUYANA, Monday, March 12, 2018

The sod was today turned for the construction of the Diamond/Grove Magistrates’ Court, which will serve the catchment area of East Bank Demerara.

The area which records thousands of cases and spans from Agricola to Timehri was served by the Providence Magistrate’s Court, which is presided over by a lone Magistrate.

Prime Minister (ag), Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George planting the tree on construction site of Diamond/Grove Magistrates’ Court.

The establishment of this court is in recognition of the burden placed on the judicial system and honours former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, from whom the idea was birthed. Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George said the turning of the sod and planting of the tree are symbolic of the growth in the administering of justice, but particularly the court system.

She told the gathering which included Prime Minister (ag), Khemraj Ramjattan and Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards and other members of the legal fraternity, that “as we seek to construct and will be constructing a new court building to serve this community… we thought it fit to construct another court as we seek to ensure access to justice throughout our country”.

Registrar, Sueann Lovell, said approval was granted by the Ministry of Public Security, which holds jurisdiction of the area and permission was also sought from the Diamond/Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to construct the building at the site, located in the compound of the Golden Grove Police Station.

The contract was signed with PD Contracting Incorporated on November 1, 2017, with an official construction date of November 17, 2017. However, inclement weather and the layout of the land resulted in setbacks. The building when completed will boast two courtrooms, a library, two magistrates chambers, two clerk’s offices, a registry, a holding cell, briefing room, janitor’s room, bailiff bond.

It is expected to be the first court in Guyana outfitted with an elevator.

The sod was turned by the Prime Minister (ag), Khemraj Ramjattan and Justice Cummings-Edwards.