The Chairman and members of Guyana’s first Law Reform Commission were sworn in on Wednesday by President Irfaan Ali.
The Chairman of the Commission is retired Justice of Appeal B.S Roy.
The other members are Vice President of the Guyana Bar Association Teni Housty, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Clarissa Rheil, Educator Dr. Brian O’Toole and Attorneys Emily Dodson, Roopnarine Satram, and Deenawatie Panday.
The Law Reform Commission will be tasked with consulting the legal fraternity and the wider population on recommendations for the revision of various laws. The Commission will also assist in drafting new laws through the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Parliamentary Counsel.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall said the Commission is long overdue since there are many laws that are in need of revision.
“You have heard me said repeatedly, that we need to overhaul our entire legislative architect and in order to do so, the Law Reform Commission shall be one of the important institutions that will be driving that process. The Law Reform Commission will also be playing that very important role of drafting laws that capture the aspirations of society, the social issues of society and the important factors that people in society are affected by and which law reform can bring some of the ratifications to whatever the wrong is”, Attorney General Nandlall said.
The Attorney General insisted that Guyana’s entire Constitution is in need of an overhaul, pointing to many of the country’s laws being outdated.
“The Commission you see is very broad-based, it was born out of deep and wide consultation with the private sector, the religious organizations, the Labour movement, the Amerindian people, and many other organizations”, AG Nandlall said.
In a brief statement, President Irfaan Ali said that since society is dynamic and ever-changing, the law, as a central pillar of civilised society, must be regularly updated in order to keep abreast with societal changes.
The President added that reforms are equally important to fill gaps in the country’s legislative architecture, harmonise its laws with international obligations while being responsive to the demands of modern justice.
“The work of the Commission is vital to ensuring that Government develops a systematic approach to legal reforms including prioritising and establishing a programme of such reforms. The work of the Commission is also critical to ensuring that Guyana keeps abreast with emerging and evolving legislative trends in the world.”
The Law Reform Commission is set to get down to work immediately and will start by reviewing various amendments and ensure those amendments are added to the existing laws.
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