Six members of the legal profession were sworn in as Puisne Judges on Wednesday, boosting Guyana’s judicial capacity amid rising demand for court services, President Dr Irfaan Ali said.
The judges took their oath of office before Ali at the Office of the President. The appointments were made on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission under Article 128(1) of the Constitution.
Those sworn in were former Supreme Court Registrar Sueanna Lovell, Attorney-at-Law Mandisa Breedy, Commissioners of Title Christel Lambert-Meertins and Renita Camille Singh, Senior Magistrate Sunil Scarce, and Registrar of Deeds Azeena Baksh. Each pledged to execute the office “without fear or favour, affection or ill will” while upholding the Constitution.
The six bring decades of combined legal experience spanning the private Bar, the Magistracy, the Director of Public Prosecutions’ office, the Deeds Registry and the Supreme Court, Ali said.
He described the appointments as a deliberate investment in the justice system, reflecting the government’s commitment to giving the judiciary the resources needed to serve an increasingly rights-conscious society.
“The swearing in of six more judges today reflects a deliberate and necessary effort to strengthen the capacity of our judiciary to meet the demands of an increasingly rights-conscious society, where citizens are more aware of their entitlements and more willing to seek judicial redress,” Ali said.
He said the executive facilitates judicial appointments but has no role in directing how judges carry out their constitutional duties, reminding the new judges that their authority derives solely from the Constitution.
“You have now entered an office of solemn responsibility. The authority you wield is not your own. It is derived from the Constitution. You are now arbiters of right and wrong, guardians of fundamental freedoms and interpreters of the law,” he said.
Ali also urged the judges to help reduce case backlogs and improve public confidence in the justice system by ensuring matters are heard within a reasonable time, acknowledging that delays continue to frustrate litigants despite progress in recent years.
“The addition of six new judges is a direct response to these challenges. However, the mere presence of additional judicial officers does not by itself cure the ailment. It is what you do with the time and resources available to you that will determine whether this moment becomes a turning point,” he said.
Calling timely justice a constitutional obligation, Ali encouraged the judges to approach every case with urgency, discipline and fairness.
“Every case you dispose of is a citizen who receives closure. Every judgment delivered promptly restores confidence in the system,” he said.
