LocationsGuyana Strengthens Prosecutorial Capacity to Support More Effective Justice Delivery
September 11, 2026
Justice of Appeal Gillian Lucky speaking to prosecutors during training
Georgetown, Guyana, 10 September 2026 – Prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the Office of the Police Legal Advisor, and the Guyana Police Force are strengthening their capacity to prosecute criminal cases through a specialised training on Criminal Practice and Procedure Rules and AI in Legal Research and Writing, delivered under the European Union-funded Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) Regional Programme.
The two-day training, held on September 10 and 11 at the Pegasus Exhibition Centre, supports ongoing efforts to enhance the knowledge and skills of Guyana's prosecutors and, by extension, the criminal justice sector. Participants will be engaged in practical sessions on rules of evidence, hearsay, identification evidence, confessions, money laundering prosecutions, and plea bargaining and plea agreements. The training will also focus on how prosecutors can ethically leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to more efficiently manage their workflows.
The sessions on plea discussions and plea agreements will be especially timely as Guyana passed its Criminal Procedure (Plea Discussion, Plea Agreement and Assistance Agreement) Act in 2024.
Delivering the feature remarks, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, reflected on the importance of maintaining balance within the criminal justice system and ensuring that legal processes uphold the rights and interests of all parties in accordance with the law. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernise Guyana's legal framework, including plans for a public education exercise on a new Evidence Act and the advancement of a new Anti-Money Laundering Bill. “And justice is always about balance. The scale must be balanced, having regard to the two interests. They may be competing. And that is why a balance must be struck. And that balance is called justice. And it must be struck in accordance with law,” the Attorney General said.
Attorney General & Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C. delivering remarks
Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, underscored the importance of strengthening prosecutorial capacity as Guyana advances key criminal justice reforms. “The whole purpose is so that the prosecutors who are here will enhance their capacity and be able to better perform and will be better able to serve the people of Guyana in the criminal justice system,” the DPP said.
The European Union, which funds the PACE Justice Programme, continues to support efforts across the Caribbean to strengthen criminal justice institutions, improve access to justice and promote the rule of law. Through targeted investments in institutional capacity, regional cooperation and legal reform, the programme is helping partner countries build more efficient and people-centred justice systems.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack delivering remarks
“We're really happy to continue this work with the criminal justice sector, with the support of the European Union-funded Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice,” said UNDP Resident Representative for Guyana, Katy Thompson. She noted that learning across Caribbean jurisdictions is a fundamental part of the PACE Justice Programme and highlighted the contribution of Justice of Appeal Gillian Lucky of Trinidad and Tobago, whose participation and contribution reflect the value of regional knowledge-sharing and collaboration in strengthening criminal justice systems. “We recognise the importance of the rule of law and access to justice as a critical part of democratic governance and a critical part of human development,” she added.
UNDP Guyana Resident Representative, Katy Thompson, during her remarks
Beyond the September 10 and 11 training, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Diana O'Brien will participate next week in a Regional Training of Trainers programme and a regional workshop aimed at finalising Standard Operating Procedures to strengthen coordination between police and prosecution services across participating countries.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Diana O'Brien
About PACE Justice
The Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) Programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Legal Affairs. The programme aims to reduce criminal justice case backlogs and strengthen the effectiveness of justice institutions through technology, capacity development, and improved institutional coordination. In addition to Guyana, the programme is being implemented in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
