Modern laws to be created to regulate new and emerging sectors -AG Nandlall

The Ministry of Legal Affairs will be moving to draft and present modern laws to the National Assembly for passage that will address new and emerging sectors in the country.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall told the National Assembly today that every area of economic activity will be targeted for legal reforms as the country braces for more investment and business from the oil and gas sector.

“Our major focus will be the creation of a modern legal infrastructure that will regulate these new and emerging sectors, while at the same time revamp our archaic laws to complete a new and modern legal framework for Guyana. So every conceivable area of economic activity will be targeted for Legal reforms”, the Attorney General said.

During his budget debate presentation, Nandlall also announced that an International consultant will be retained to draft a collection of legislation for the oil and gas sector, but other sectors will also be targeted for reform.

He said that “in the housing and hospitality sector, we will have a whole regime of legislation dealing with zoning, urban planning, condominiums and townhouses. In the health sector, we have identified approximately 25 pieces of legislation which we will begin to work on including, a new Public Health Act, a new Mental Health Act, Organ Transplant legislation, a new Food and Drug Act and many more. In the Agri sector, we will be enacting a Food Safety Act and a Food Security Act and other pieces of legislation that will ready Guyana to export Agricultural products”.

Also listed as part of his legislative plan, are bills to cover dumping and e-transactions.

“Mr. Speaker in addition to the Hire Purchase Bill which is in the Select Committee, we have an Anti-Dumping Bill, a Movable Property Security Bill and an E-Transactions Bill which are currently in draft. This latter Bill is to prepare the public sector to engage in E-transactions and for payments to be made for government services by means other than cash and cheque. At the level of Local Government, the Solid Waste Management Bill will soon be completed and public consultations will be held in relation thereto”, Nandlall reported.

In the area of defence, the Attorney General told the National Assembly that in order to strengthen Guyana’s ability to protect its borders, a Bill is being drafted for the establishment of a Border Patrol Unit which will supplement the Guyana Police Force.

Also on the cards for the Legal Affairs Ministry is the drafting of new Public Service rules, which Nandlall said will be to the benefit of public servants.