Page 383 - Magistrates Conference 2019

Facts not otherwise relevant are relevant if they support or are inconsistent with the opinions of
experts when the opinions are relevant. 148

When the Court has to form an opinion as to the person by whom any document was written or
signed, the opinion of any person acquainted with the handwriting of the person by whom it is

supposed to be written or signed that it was not written or signed by that person is a relevant fact.
A person is said to be acquainted with the handwriting of another person when he or she has seen

that person write, or when he or she has received documents purporting to be written by that

person in answer to documents written by himself or herself or under his or her authority and
addressed to that person, or when, in the ordinary course of business, documents purporting to be

written by that person have been habitually submitted to him or her. 149

Guyana

The fact that any person is of the opinion that a fact which may be proved does or does not exist
is generally inadmissible in evidence on the trial of any question as to the existence of that

fact. 150

Where there is a question as to any point of science or art, the opinion, the opinion on that point

of a person specially skilled in the science or art is admissible in evidence. 151 That person is
called an expert.

The words science or art includes all subjects or experience necessary to the making of the

opinion and the examination of handwriting. 152

On the question of foreign law, the opinion of the expert, who in his profession is acquainted

with the law, is the only admissible evidence thereof, though the expert may produce to the court

148 Grenada – Evidence Act Cap. 92, section 44
149 Grenada – Evidence Act Cap. 92, section 45
150 Guyana – Evidence Act Cap. 5:03, section 15
151 Guyana – Evidence Act Cap. 5:03, sections 16(1)(2)
152 Guyana – Evidence Act Cap. 5:03, section 16(3)
44