Guyana President David Granger says the Council for Legal Education (CLE), should seek new ways of improving access to, and delivery of, affordable legal education to all corners of the Caribbean region.
Addressing the opening of the 50th Meeting of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) on Friday, Granger called on the Council to ensure non-discriminatory admissions to the regional law schools.
Not satisfied with present quota
“Guyana’s need for a greater number of practitioners cannot be satisfied with the present quota it has imposed on our students of our regional law schools. Guyana looks forward to the Council of Legal Education to facilitate the education of more specialized legal practitioners in the Caribbean and of course, Guyana,” the Head of State told the gathering of legal luminaries.
Currently, Guyana is allowed a quota of 25 students to pursue studies at the Hugh Wooding Law School.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams weighed in the matter, noting that each year, Guyanese law students are faced with an enormous financial burden of fees amounting to TT$98,000
“Our students simply cannot afford this high cost and therefore are deterred from a legal career. As Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, I have received many calls and visits from students who have excelled at the undergraduate level but because of cost cannot complete their legal education,” the Attorney General said.
He added that although the government assists with 25 per cent of the cost, the balance remains a hurdle.
This is the fifth time the CLE meetings are being hosted by Guyana.
Previous meetings were held here in 1975, 1981, 1987 and 1994.
