ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has called for increased utilisation of the Hope and Justice centres across Guyana, stressing that their continued operation and potential expansion depend on public engagement.
These centres, established through a collaboration between the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Ministry of Legal Affairs under the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) Programme, provide essential services to individuals facing various social and legal challenges.

Since their launch last year, the Hope and Justice centres in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), have assisted dozens of individuals, offering a holistic, survivor-centered approach in a secure and supportive setting.
These facilities cater to both adults and children affected by sexual and gender-based violence, providing counselling, medical care, legal aid, and even temporary accommodation for those in crisis.
Statistics reveal that approximately 50 per cent of the cases handled by the Lusignan centre involve domestic violence, about 30 per cent relate to elder abuse, and 15 per cent pertain to legal disputes such as land conflicts and restraining orders. The centres also work closely with the Child Protection Agency (CPA) to address cases involving minors.

As the first of their kind in the Commonwealth Caribbean, the Hope and Justice centres function as “one-stop” facilities where victims can access a range of integrated services, including legal representation, psychological support, and police protection.
However, Nandlall warned that under-utilisation of these facilities could hinder efforts to secure additional government funding for their expansion across the country.
“I am to report to you, unfortunately, that we are not utilising it enough. And if we are not utilising it enough, that would militate against me building a case to get Central Government funding to replicate it in all the regions of our country,” he said, while delivering remarks recently at the Exit Workshop for the SCJS Programme.

He highlighted the need for greater awareness, noting that many citizens remain unaware of the services provided.
Using the Lusignan Hope and Justice Centre as an example, Nandlall pointed out its accessibility from the main public road, its location in a densely populated areas and its strategic location between the Vigilance and Beterverwagting Police Stations, as well as its proximity to the Sparendaam and Vigilance Magistrates’ Courts.

He said: “We have lawyers there; we have accommodation for victims; we have therapists; we have social service workers; we have medical services; and we have police protection there. It is an entire package.”
The Attorney-General stressed that both the government and the media must do more to promote these centres, ensuring that those in need can access the vital services they offer.
“We need to do more, even at the level of the government, to promote these facilities,” he stated.

The US$8 million SCJS Programme, funded by the IDB, aimed to enhance the effectiveness, transparency, and accessibility of the criminal justice system in Guyana.
Launched in 2017, the initiative is a critical component of the government’s broader efforts to modernise the judiciary and ensure that justice is delivered in a timely and equitable manner.
The general objective of the programme is to contribute to the reduction of high concentrations of prison population in Guyana. The specific objectives are: (i) to reduce the proportion of inmates who are pre-trial detainees; and (ii) to increase the use of alternative sentencing in the country.
Despite the principle of presumption of innocence, a significant portion of Guyana’s prison population comprised of pre-trial detainees. Many remained in custody due to a lack of legal representation, delays in case processing, and outdated judicial procedures as of the beginning of the programme research in 2019.

Guyana’s penal system frequently imposed incarceration for minor and non-violent offences, with limited utilisation of alternative sentencing options.