Since 2021, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, is on public record asking judges to comply with the laws that prescribe a time limit for the handing down of written decisions.
Because of widespread criticisms linked to perennial delays in the judiciary, the Time Limit for Judicial Decisions Act was piloted by Nandlall and passed in the National Assembly in 2009 but 15 years later, the law has done little to cure the problem.
Nandlall complained that on the PPP/C’s return to government after August 2020 that judges continue to disobey the law.
And despite assurances by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonnette Cummings- Edwards that efforts will be made to ensure the rule of law is upheld, Nandlall said on Tuesday that the breach continues, a breach he reminded can result in the removal of the judicial officer from the bench.
The issue came to the fore following reports in Barbados that formal complaints have been lodged against certain judges over their delay in delivering decisions.
“Guyanese from all walks of life are complaining and have complained against the sloth at which the judicial system work,” Nandlall said during his Tuesday night ‘Issues in the News’ commentary on his Facebook page.
In 2022, when the News Room reported on the issue, Justice Cummings-Edwards said the breaches were not intentional and promised that the judiciary will look at those shortcomings and remedy them.
“If there is a breach, it is not intentional… we will look at it and remedy it,” the Chancellor assured the News Room.
But Nandlall sees no improvement though he highlighted some issues plaguing the judiciary, including shortage of judges.
“…But there is a law…everyone must obey the law, no agency is above the law.
“We are going to have more judges appointed and there will be expectation that the law in relation to the writing of decisions will be obeyed,” Nandlall said.
It is the efficiency of the work of judicial officers that Nandlall had issues with.
The time limit for delivering written decisions is four to six months after the oral judgement is handed down.
This law on a time limit is part of a chain of measures designed to bring dispatch and expediency to the administration of justice such as an alternative dispute resolution, mediation process, plea bargaining and paper committals.
The law provides a mechanism for the removal of a judge from office although judges enjoy high security of tenure under the Constitution.
