“All hands on board”; new Chief Justice to address backlog of cases

By Jomo Paul

[www.inewsguyana.com] – It is all hands on board, as newly sworn in Acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards says she intends to encourage teamwork to handle the issue of cases backlogged in the judiciary.

Cummings-Edwards made the statement shortly after being sworn in by President David Granger as Chief Justice.

Succeeding Ian Chang, she is now the second woman to hold the post with the first being Desiree Bernard who now serves on the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The new Chief Justice said that as a matter of priority the present state of affairs that obtains in the judicial system will be looked at.

“I intend to look at the state of affairs right now and I intend to deal with backlog cases. I intend to deal with matters affecting the judiciary – the smooth functioning of the judiciary and I intend to have all hands on board for us to work together towards having a system,” (that works) said Cummings-Edwards.

She noted that while, case backlogs is not something that is unique to Guyana’s judiciary, it can be fixed and required a concerted effort.

“Backlog is a problem that affects all judiciaries but it’s something that has to be handled consistently and by all of us. I intend for all the judges and myself to tackle the issue,” she stated.

An official Government statement on the appointment had noted that Cummings-Edwards was appointed after it was considered that she is a woman with “many years experience as a Puisne Judge of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature, a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal, her competency and professionalism.”

Edwards began her law career in 1988 and stated that she is “elated” at the appointment.

“I am honoured and at the same time it’s a humbling experience,” she said.