𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥‑𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 – 𝐏𝐌 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬

– 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆, 𝒔𝒊𝒙 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒊𝒏

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips underscored the importance of maintaining an independent, adequately resourced and efficient judiciary, which he said must remain fundamental to democracy and the administration of justice.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while administering the Oath of Office to five newly appointed Commissioners of Title and six newly appointed Magistrates during a ceremony held in the Lula Room of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre earlier today.

The Commissioners of Title, who will serve in the Land Court, are Alicia Lowenfield, Annette Singh, Alisha George, Shivani Lalaram and Utieka John. The newly appointed Magistrates are Ocelisa Marks, Nikkisha Logan, Jimelle Joseph, Shareefah Parks, Taneisha Saygon and Caressa Henry.

Prime Minister Phillips said the Government has continued to support the judiciary through investments in court infrastructure, modern systems and human resources. He pointed to the construction and rehabilitation of courthouses, as well as the provision of financial resources to procure an upgraded e‑litigation system. The system, he explained, has helped to modernise court operations, strengthen case management and support the efficient disposal of matters.

“The most fundamental component of an efficient judiciary is that it must be resourced. The Executive that I represent here today is largely responsible for providing those resources. At no time in the history of independent Guyana has the judiciary been better resourced than during the period 2020 to 2026.”

Addressing the expansion of the judiciary’s human‑resource capacity, Prime Minister Phillips pointed to the appointment of nine Magistrates in February 2024, three Commissioners of Title in April 2024, 10 Puisne Judges in June 2024 and seven Justices of Appeal in May 2025.

He nevertheless emphasised that the Government’s responsibility to provide resources does not extend to influencing the appointment or work of judicial officers.

“We [the Executive] do not control the judiciary, we do not determine whom they appoint, we do not determine how they function. The judiciary must remain functionally independent. It is a fundamental constitutional concept which we embrace.”

Prime Minister Phillips added that a competent, independent and reliable judiciary is vital to maintaining public confidence, upholding the rule of law and providing security for local and international investments.

“All the Executive asks, on behalf of the people of Guyana whom we are elected to represent, is that the judiciary functions independently, fairly and makes decisions in accordance with law.”

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Honourable Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), the Honourable Madam Justice Roxane George, CCH; Chief Justice (ag), the Honourable Mr Justice Navindra Singh; Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman; Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Manniram Prashad; and President of the Guyana Bar Association, Arudranauth Gossai were also present.