Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall maintains that the legislative drafters in his Ministry are for the Government only even though he said the administration is supportive of a training programme – which he referred to as “an unprecedented initiative” – to train MPs and Parliament staff in legislative drafting.
He was speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony of the three-day United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-funded workshop which took place at the Grand Coastal Inn, on the East Coast of Demerara. He called the workshop timely and vital for Guyana’s democracy.
The workshop aims to furnish participants with the insights and strengthen their capacity to draft and amend legislation. A Parliament Office release said that the workshop was well attended by the three political parties represented in the National Assembly: The People’s Progressive Party (PPP), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), staff of the Parliament, and staff of the Ministry of Legal Affairs. The course is divided into two parts: the first being in October, 2012 and the second in February of 2013.
The release said that UNDP and the Parliament are working together to conduct the course and two experts – Peter Vanhoutte, co-founder and chairman of the Center for Democratic and Participatory Governance and Steven van Wichelen, UNDP expert on Parliamentary Development – will work with the participants for the duration of the workshop.
According to a press release from Parliament Office, which coordinated the training, Nandlall said that upon assuming office he had received a call from the Opposition for legal drafters to be made available to them. “Nandlall noted that historically the legal drafting department has been resident in the Ministry of Legal Affairs and disclosed that he is advocating having legal advisors within the Parliament Office,” the press release said.
Some months ago, Nandlall was unequivocal in saying that the draftsmen resident in the Ministry of Legal Affairs would not have been made available to the Opposition to help those members prepare Bills for the National Assembly.
He reiterated this yesterday during a courtesy call by the visiting experts, saying that Government was unable to provide drafting personnel for the Opposition with respect to outlining legislation for them.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, Nandlall said during the meeting that drafting of legislation and laying legislation before Parliament is principally a Government function.
He further explained that Legal Affairs Ministry staff is challenged in terms of the work load from the Government through the various ministries. “We simply do not have the physical capabilities to extend that type of service outside of the executive,” he stated.
Speaking yesterday at the opening, Nandlall, in explaining the process involved in drafting legislation, said that it is a difficult science. According to the release, he said that it is unimaginable that in three days any substantive training can be done and opined that this workshop must be an ongoing exercise.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, said this legislative training seminar comes after months of planning. He acknowledged the hard work of the National Assembly and thanked the UNDP for their continued partnership in developing the National Assembly and the Parliament office.
Khadija Musa, UNDP Resident Representative, said the United Nations Development Fund is pleased to be associated with this training seminar.
APNU Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon said a properly functioning democracy requires a properly functioning Parliament and this in turn requires parliamentarians who know how to both read and interpret legislation.
The Parliament Office press release said the workshop is being implemented under the framework of the long-term agreement which was signed between the UNDP and the Parliament in 2011. It said that following the 2011 elections, and the election of the unique 10th Parliament, the Speaker reengaged the agency to vary its programme to meet the new dispensation that existed.
