Magistrates’ Court was on Wednesday commissioned at Vigilance, East Coast Demerara. The cost is pegged at $294 million
Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, in her address noted that the new court is long overdue, as she highlighted the challenges encountered in the previous building which was constructed in the 1940s.
The new building features two court rooms, living quarters, a drug treatment department, domestic violence hearing room, interview rooms for survivors, smart courts and a waiting area. The court also features a modern digital payment system for bail and other fees through GTT’s Mobile Money Guyana (MMG).
Cummings-Edwards expressed gratitude to the Government of Guyana and all the stakeholders who worked tirelessly in ensuring the Judiciary had such a smart facility.
The Vigilance Magistrate’s Court houses the head office of the East Demerara Magisterial District. This Magisterial District also consists of the Sparendaam, Cove and John, Mahaica and Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court. It was the first court in that district to be equipped with audio-visual recording including a camera, monitors, smart television, microphone, a surround system, a reliable internet connection, and Skype system.
Living quarters for magistrates at the New Vigilance Magistrates’ Court
In 2016, the Judiciary demolished the ageing building which had housed the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. The court was re-commissioned in February 2017. In 2020 the Judiciary invited eligible bids for the construction of a new Magistrate’s Court at Vigilance on the East Coast of Demerara.
Waiting area for visitors
