A proposed amendment to the Law Reform Commission Act, piloted by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, will fundamentally alter the manner in which the members of the Commission are selected if passed.
“Clause 3 of the Bill [Amendment] substitutes for Section 4 [of the Act], a new section 4 to make provision for an inclusive Law Reform Commission… the system of appointment of Commissioners in its current construct is flawed as it does not uphold the tenets of a modem society which should always strive for inclusivity. Law reform is the process by which the law is modified and improved to better respond to the needs of the society. Therefore, to ensure that the Law Reform Commission carries out its mandate effectively, the Commis-sioners must comprise of persons who represent the various facets of society,” the explanatory memorandum of the amendment bill states.
The amendment, published by the National Assembly, is a manifestation of an objection raised to the initial Act by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and Nandlall while in opposition.