Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand, is lamenting the fact that rules for the Family Court, submitted to the head of the responsible committee since November 2010 but not yet legislated into law, is stalling the inauguration of the court. A deadline, of May 2010, had been given for the opening of the first ever Family Court in Guyana and a building to accommodate it was constructed in the High Court compound.
The new, two-storey edifice has replicated the architectural style of the adjacent High Court and Law Library.
The establishment is to deal with issues such as divorce, division of property and other domestic matters, including adoption, guardianship and custody.
Speaking at her Cornhill Street Ministry, also in Georgetown, last Thursday, the Minister said: “I understand, from the Judiciary, that we are now waiting on the rules, which can only be made by the Rules Committee, a matter of law, separate from the executive arm of Government.”
She said Family Court officials had indicated to Government that they had no capacity to get those rules made and recommended someone, who was hired, to do the drafting.
Manickchand said the rules were, subsequently, submitted to the Chancellor of the Judiciary, who is the head of the Rules Committee, since November 2010. But, to date, they have not been made legal and a proper answer will have to come from the Chancellor or the Rules Committee.
“I, for myself, am very disappointed that it has not been done as yet,” Manickchand said, adding that every other promise made by the Government, through her ministry, has been fulfilled, except that of the Family Court.
“So I’m personally disappointed…the failure of the Rules Committee to have these rules adopted has really stalled my own progress in getting 100 percent of what we have completed,” she said.
However, the minister said she was pleased that her ministry did whatever it could to get the Court to the stage where it is at presently.
“What needs to be done now is dependent on that body over which I have no jurisdiction,” she declared.
Previously, the Minister had said that the initiative for a Family Court was prompted by the awareness that the family unit is severely affected by societal demoralisation.
This recognition has motivated the emphasis on providing an environment where adults and children can seek justice and family law can be dealt with in a specialised manner.
Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/2011/08/30/manickchand-laments-stalled-family-court-rules