Law Reform Commission will be proactive

THE NOVEL Guyana’s Law Reform Commission will be proactive towards legislative
changes to guide the society Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil
Nandlall said today at its inaugural meeting at its Middle Street, Georgetown, office.
“We have had law reforms in Guyana being reactive. So, something happens, you go and pass
the law to correct it. We will try to get this Law Reform Commission to be proactive so that we
would have legislation in anticipation of, and not as a reaction to,” the need for changes, AG
Nandlall said.
He said a lot of local laws need updating, and as a result, the law reforms here must be done in a
scientific way in order to meet societal aspirations.
“One of the first tasks that the Law Reform Commission will undertake is to…correct all of the
errors and emissions that we would have made during the last revision exercise when we
consolidated the laws in 2012,” Nandlall said.

The AG said the Irfaan Ali administration wants to revise the laws passed between 2012 and this
year. As such, agencies will have to incorporate into the laws and their amendments passed since
2012 in the National Assembly.
“When that exercise is completed, then the Law Reform Commission will begin its work
because you have to know that the status of your laws is in a consolidated way because you can
decide how you will reform it,” the AG explained.
Commissioners will hold public consultations which will form reports and recommendations that
will be given to the Government.

The body is chaired by retired Justice of Appeal, Beasraj Singh Roy. Other members are Teni
Housty; Clarissa Riehl; Brian O’ Toole; Emily Dodson; Roopnarine Satram and Deenawatie
Panday. They Commission has a three-year tenure effective August 11 this year.

They are scheduled to meet four times monthly.