Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Friday announced government’s “packed” legislative agenda for 2022, with electoral reforms as well as the delayed amendment to removal of custodial sentences for the possession of small amounts of marijuana among over three dozen pieces of legislation to be advanced.
During his contribution to the debate on the 2022 national budget, Nandlall said there would be new laws for almost every sector and indeed every ministry in the government. Those cited were: the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2021; the Hire-Purchase Bill; the Juvenile Justice (Amendment) Bill; the Evidence (Amendment) Bill; the Suicide Prevention Bill; the Border Patrol Bill; the Wills (Amendment) Bill; the Restorative Justice Bill, which he said is finalised and with the Minister of Finance; the Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Bill, which is also finalised and currently with the subject Minister; the Bail Bill, which is being refined; the Condominium Bill, which has been sent to Minister of Housing; the Mental Health Services Bill; the Leave with Pay (Amendment) Bill, which was sent to Minister of Finance and Minister of Labour; the Electronic Communications and Transactions Bill, which was sent to Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; the Anti-Dumping Bill, which was sent to Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Engineers Bill; the Securities Bill; the Wales Development Authority Bill; the Public Service Appellate Tribunal (Amendment) Bill; the National Intelligence and Security Agency Bill; the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill; the National Registration (Amendment) Bill; the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill; the Surveil-lance Devices Bill; the Arbitration Bill; the Hemp Bill; the Public Health Bill; the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill; the Nurses and Midwives Bill; the Solid Waste Management Bill; the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Bill; the Firearms Bill; the Domestic Violence Bill; the Radiation Safety and Protection Bill; the Legislative Amendments to relevant laws to allow for Judge-alone criminal trials; the Subsidies and Counter-vailing Measures Bill; the Safeguard Measures Bill; and Amendments to the Sexual Offences Act.
Nandlall also highlighted the constitutional reform as being an important agenda item for his ministry.
However, Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs Roysdale Forde, who also presented on the budget yesterday, lamented that while government talked of respect for the rule of law and obedience to the Constitution, it was yet to consult with the Opposition Leader in forging the path ahead for the reconstitution of a number of commissions, including importantly, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
On this point he said that the PPP/C’s “disregard for the Constitution is manifest in its strident refusal to engage in the necessary consultations to ensure the confirmation of the Chancellor and Chief Justice of the Judiciary.”
Any consideration on the constitution of the JSC, Forde said, must commence with consultations which lead to the confirmation of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice.
In rebuttal, however, Nandlall accused the now-opposition of not reaching out to have consultations with the leader of the PPP when it (the PPP) was in opposition. He then went on to say that APNU+AFC has now no opposition Leader with whom the government can consult.
Joseph Harmon recently resigned as Opposition Leader and it is expected that new PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton will take up the post.
Harmon has always indicated his willingness to meet with the President as is required by the Constitution for consultation on the appointment of the substantive posts of Chancellor and Chief Justice. However, since assuming office in August of 2020President Irfaan Ali has said he would not meet with Harmon until the latter recognizes the legitimacy of his government, although there is no such constitutional requirement as prerequisite for engagement.
During his address to the House, Nandlall also said the recently established Law Reform Commission will move into gear in 2022. “Last week I met with them, and they promised that within a month they will complete their work programme for the year 2022, their first full year in office. I have requested that they meet with certain important stakeholder organisations in our country and to receive recommendations for law reform. The work of this Commission will further augment the government’s legislative agenda,” he said.
Nandlall said, too, that the Deeds Registry, which began the process of digitizing its property registers in July 2020, will commence the digitization of all other documents filed at the Registry. He said when these projects are completed, members of the public will be able to access their records electronically.
