The Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, through its Court of Appeal, has announced a major backlog-reduction exercise aimed at clearing more than 2,000 appeals and applications filed over nearly three decades, with hearings set to begin next month.
In a notice issued under the direction of Chancellor (ag) Justice Roxane George, the court said the initiative targets matters filed between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2024, acknowledging the long delays faced by litigants and attorneys.
“The Court acknowledges the understandable concern of litigants and attorneys-at-law awaiting the determination of long-standing matters,” the notice stated, adding that the exercise reflects “a firm commitment to the timely, fair and transparent administration of justice.”
As part of the drive, the Court of Appeal has been divided into three panels, each assigned 70 cases, bringing the first tranche to 210 matters. These include 21 civil appeals, 20 criminal appeals, and 29 applications for leave to appeal and extensions of time to appeal per panel.
Hearings will commence with civil appeals on February 10, 12 and 13, 2026, starting at 9:30 am on each day.
One notable aspect of the exercise is its firm, court-driven approach. The court warned that no matter assigned under the programme will be returned to the registry without being concluded.
“The Court of Appeal emphasises that this exercise will be court-driven, guided by robust case management principles, and that no case will be returned to the court registry without disposition,” the notice said.
As a result, attorneys-at-law and litigants are expected to be fully prepared to proceed when matters are called.
The court also disclosed that applications for leave to appeal and extensions of time filed between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2025 are being addressed, while applications filed in 2026 will be assigned on a rolling basis “so that they can be heard in the most timely manner possible.”
To prevent another buildup, the appeal panels will also be assigned more recently filed appeals as part of the process.
Notices of hearing will be sent to the recorded addresses of litigants and attorneys-at-law and will also be published in the newspapers, on the court’s website under “Hearing Lists,” and on its official Facebook page.
