Well-known Guyanese lawyer Nigel Hughes on Monday defended his decision to defend People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) government minister, Nigel Dharamlall in a rape allegation by a 16-year old schoolgirl, arguing that his priority is to ensure that the system works fairly for the complainant and the accused. “We have to ensure first of all you protect the person who ...

The Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Coast Guard and Air Corps are undergoing major upgrades as part of an integrated approach to counter illegal activities, patrol the country’s borders and move troops and equipment, a well-placed source said Monday. The latest addition is the Beechcraft King Air 350, which was seized in 2017, and fully-refurbished at a cost of US$2 million ...

Two agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are to be fired for their alleged theft of several pieces of diamond from a Surinamese man who was allegedly caught with an illegal firearm in his possession, CANU Head James Singh said. “We are preparing their exit from the unit since the police are going to institute charges,” Mr Singh told ...

Guyana’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Hack on Saturday recommended the scrapping of jury trials for murder accused in the interior regions, and offences such as money laundering, trafficking in persons and cybercrime because of the technical nature of the evidence. She called on the Guyana government to amend the legislation to allow for judge-only trials as reasons should ...

Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Judge, Jacob Wit on Saturday expressed concern about the protracted delay in accused persons on bail and on remand awaiting trial, prompting him to recommend the establishment of a pre-trial Chamber in Guyana to address the worrying trend. “Regionally, the delays are such that they are simply unacceptable. In some persons, accused persons are on ...

Two agents of Guyana’s Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) have been arrested by police after one of them allegedly excreted two diamonds that were stolen from a Surinamese man who was allegedly detained for alleged illegal possession of a firearm, police said. Investigators said CANU agent Jamine Goddard excreted the diamonds and his colleague, Annick Hossanah, allegedly sold the diamonds to ...

The opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and women’s rights organisation, Red Thread, on Thursday continued to vent their frustration at government’s response to the damning alleged rape of a 16-year old schoolgirl by Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall. With the teen still in protective care of the State, all eyes are now on ...

Police appeared to have wrapped up their investigations into Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall’s alleged rape of a 16-year old girl and was poised to seek legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), even as that law enforcement agency fended off claims that it breached procedures in probing a sexual offence involving a minor. “The case file containing ...

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. On Wednesday, 21 June 2023, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), sitting in Guyana, delivered its judgment for the special leave application, AB v The Director of Public Prosecutions [2023] CCJ 8 (AJ) GY. The CCJ denied the Applicant special leave to appeal to the CCJ to review a decision of the Court of Appeal of Guyana, ...

The 16-year old girl, who has accused Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall of raping her, has been denied access to a private lawyer who plans to challenge that decision in the High Court. “Nothing is stopping the representatives of the State from being there to protect the interest of the State but nothing in law bars her from having her ...