🇬🇾 Guyana Legal System

Common Law Jurisdiction - Constitution of 1980

10 Regions
800K Population
1966 Independence

Constitution of Guyana

In force since October 6, 1980 (with amendments)

Constitutional Structure

  • Part I: The State
  • Part II: Principles and Bases of the Political, Economic and Social System
  • Part III: Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual
  • Part IV: The Executive
  • Part V: Parliament
  • Part VI: Local Democracy
  • Part VII: The Judicature
  • Part VIII: The Public Service
  • Part IX: Finance
  • Part X: The Rights Commissions
  • Part XI: Land
  • Part XII: General

Fundamental Principles

🏛️ Democratic Republic

Sovereign democratic state

⚖️ Rule of Law

Common law tradition

🌍 Multi-ethnic State

Unity in diversity

🤝 Co-operative Republic

Socialist principles incorporated

Separation of Powers

  • Legislative: National Assembly (65 members)
  • Executive: Executive President and Cabinet
  • Judicial: Independent court system
  • Head of State: Executive President
  • Parliamentary System: Proportional representation

🎉 Independence Day: May 26, 1966

Guyana gained independence from the United Kingdom, becoming a republic on February 23, 1970. The country maintained its common law system while developing its own unique constitutional framework.

  • Former name: British Guiana
  • Only English-speaking country in South America
  • Caribbean Community (CARICOM) founding member
  • Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) member

Court System

Hierarchy of Courts

Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Final appellate court since 2005

Court of Appeal

Appellate jurisdiction

High Court

Supreme Court of Judicature

Magistrates' Courts

Summary jurisdiction

Lands & Titles Court

Land disputes

Common Law Jurisdiction

  • English common law tradition
  • Precedent-based system
  • Adversarial proceedings
  • Jury trials for serious crimes
  • Equity principles applied
  • Roman-Dutch law influences (land)

Special Courts & Tribunals

  • Commercial Court
  • Family Court
  • Drug Treatment Court
  • Tax Appeal Tribunal
  • Industrial Court
  • Police Complaints Authority

Fundamental Rights and Freedoms

📜 Individual Rights

  • Article 138: Right to life
  • Article 139: Right to personal liberty
  • Article 140: Protection from slavery and forced labour
  • Article 141: Protection from inhuman treatment
  • Article 142: Protection from deprivation of property
  • Article 143: Protection from arbitrary search or entry
  • Article 144: Provisions to secure protection of law
  • Article 145: Protection of freedom of conscience

🗣️ Civil and Political Rights

  • Article 146: Protection of freedom of expression
  • Article 147: Protection of freedom of assembly and association
  • Article 148: Protection of freedom of movement
  • Article 149: Protection from discrimination
  • Article 150: Protection of privacy
  • Right to vote (18 years and above)
  • Right to participate in government

⚖️ Legal Protections

  • Habeas corpus
  • Presumption of innocence
  • Right to legal counsel
  • Protection against double jeopardy
  • Right to appeal
  • Constitutional remedies (Article 153)
  • Human Rights Commissions

🗣️ Official Language

Official Language: English (government, courts, education)

Other Languages Spoken:

  • Guyanese Creole: Widely spoken lingua franca
  • Hindi/Urdu: Indo-Guyanese communities
  • Amerindian Languages: Arawak, Carib, Warrau, Akawaio, Patamona, Macushi, Wapishana, Arekuna
  • Chinese: Chinese-Guyanese communities
  • Portuguese: Border regions
  • Spanish: Growing due to Venezuelan migration

Petroleum and Natural Resources Law

New Era of Oil & Gas Development

🛢️ Petroleum Framework

  • Petroleum (Exploration & Production) Act 1986
  • Petroleum Commission Act 2020
  • Natural Resource Fund Act 2019
  • Local Content Act 2021
  • Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs)
  • Environmental Protection Act

⛽ Key Developments

  • Major discoveries since 2015
  • Stabroek Block operations
  • Revenue management systems
  • Local content requirements
  • Environmental safeguards
  • Sovereign Wealth Fund

🏭 Regulatory Bodies

  • Ministry of Natural Resources
  • Guyana Geology and Mines Commission
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Petroleum Commission
  • Natural Resource Fund Board
  • Local Content Secretariat

Indigenous and Amerindian Rights

Constitutional Protection and Land Rights

Legal Framework

  • Amerindian Act 2006
  • Constitutional protections
  • Village Council system
  • Land titling provisions
  • Protected area co-management
  • Free, prior, informed consent

Amerindian Peoples

  • Lokono (Arawak)
  • Kalina (Carib)
  • Warrau
  • Akawaio
  • Patamona
  • Macushi
  • Wapishana
  • Arekuna
  • Wai Wai

Rights & Protections

  • Collective land ownership
  • Village governance autonomy
  • Resource management rights
  • Cultural preservation
  • Language protection
  • Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

Administrative Regions

The Ten Regions

Region 1
Barima-Waini
Region 2
Pomeroon-Supenaam
Region 3
Essequibo Islands-West Demerara
Region 4
Demerara-Mahaica (Georgetown)
Region 5
Mahaica-Berbice
Region 6
East Berbice-Corentyne
Region 7
Cuyuni-Mazaruni
Region 8
Potaro-Siparuni
Region 9
Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Region 10
Upper Demerara-Berbice

Principal Legal Framework

📘 Major Acts and Statutes

  • Criminal Law (Offences) Act: Chapter 8:01
  • Criminal Law (Procedure) Act: Chapter 10:01
  • Evidence Act: Chapter 5:03
  • Summary Jurisdiction Acts: Chapters 8:02, 10:02
  • Civil Law Act: Chapter 6:01
  • High Court Act: Chapter 3:02
  • Labour Act: Chapter 98:01

⚖️ Special Legislation

  • Domestic Violence Act: 1996
  • Prevention of Crimes Act: Chapter 8:03
  • Anti-Money Laundering Act: 2009
  • Integrity Commission Act: 1997
  • Access to Information Act: 2011
  • Cybercrime Act: 2018

🏛️ Constitutional Actions

  • Constitutional Motion: Article 153
  • Habeas Corpus: Common law writ
  • Judicial Review: Administrative decisions
  • Originating summons: High Court
  • Prerogative writs
  • Declaration and injunction

Business and Commercial Law

💼 Corporate Framework

  • Companies Act 1991
  • Business Names Registration Act
  • Partnership Act
  • Co-operative Societies Act
  • Securities Industry Act
  • Small Business Act

🏦 Financial Services

  • Bank of Guyana Act
  • Financial Institutions Act
  • Insurance Act
  • Anti-Money Laundering regulations
  • Foreign Exchange regulations
  • Tax compliance requirements

🌴 Investment and Trade

  • Investment Act 2004
  • Export/Import regulations
  • Free Zone Act
  • GO-INVEST facilitation
  • CARICOM Single Market
  • Tax holidays and incentives

Labour and Employment Law

👷 Employment Framework

  • Labour Act (Chapter 98:01)
  • Minimum wage regulations
  • Working hours: 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week
  • Overtime compensation
  • Annual leave entitlements
  • Sick leave provisions
  • Maternity leave: 13 weeks

🤝 Industrial Relations

  • Trade Union Recognition Act
  • Collective bargaining rights
  • Strike and lockout procedures
  • Industrial Court jurisdiction
  • Arbitration procedures
  • Essential services provisions

🛡️ Worker Protections

  • Occupational Safety and Health Act
  • Workers' compensation
  • National Insurance Scheme
  • Severance pay requirements
  • Anti-discrimination provisions
  • Child labour prohibitions

Legal System Institutions

⚖️

High Court

Supreme Court of Judicature

🏛️

Attorney General

Chief legal advisor and Minister

🛡️

DPP

Director of Public Prosecutions

👥

Rights Commissions

Human Rights, Women & Gender, Indigenous

🏢

Judicial Service Commission

Judicial appointments

🗳️

GECOM

Elections Commission

📚

Law Reform Commission

Legal modernization

👮

Guyana Police Force

Law enforcement

⚔️

Legal Aid Clinic

Georgetown Legal Aid

Need Legal Guidance in Guyana?

Consult with our AI assistant specialized in Guyanese law

Start Legal Consultation

Resources and Useful Links

🔗 Official Websites

📞 Emergency Contacts

  • 911: Emergency Services
  • Police: 225-6411
  • Fire: 912
  • Ambulance: 913
  • Help & Shelter: 225-4731 (Domestic Violence)
  • Childcare: 227-0979

📚 Legal Services

  • Georgetown Legal Aid Clinic
  • Guyana Bar Association
  • Human Rights Association
  • Guyana Legal Aid Clinic
  • Women's Rights organizations
  • University of Guyana Law Department