was officially launched last Thursday during a simple ceremony in the compound of the Georgetown Supreme Court.

The launch was attended by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Narine Singh, and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative, Gabriel Vockel, several judges and magistrates and other stakeholders.

In her remarks, Justice George noted the ceremony marked the beginning of a significant new chapter of the justice journey of the judiciary in Guyana. The Chief Justice said: “This justice journey has now embraced therapeutic justice as we strive to be less punitive while being responsive in a different way to the many challenges persons may have when they come into contact with the law; assisting them to better change agents for themselves and ultimately the society. We started with the Drug Treatment Court in 2019 and launched the Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts in 2022.”

The Chief Justice noted that the services of the Mental Health Court will extend throughout the Magistracy in Guyana. “These services will be available not only in the Magistrate Court here in Georgetown but also in Bartica and will soon be available in New Amsterdam and on the Essequibo Coast…and eventually in most, if not all, of our magisterial district,” Justice George added.

Magistrate Tariq Mohamed of Bartica, who also addressed the ceremony virtually, said that the launch of the Mental Health Court represents a crucial step in the judiciary’s pursuit of holistic justice. “The court is more than just a legal institution; it is a testament to our collective commitment to compassion, understanding and rehabilitation. By providing an informed and innovative framework, we aim to guide individuals towards recovery and reintegration into society while also ensuring public safety and accountability.” (Kaieteur News)