The Electronic Communications and Transaction Bill, which was laid in the National Assembly on July 20 by the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond with the aim to establish the legal framework for the use and acceptance of electronic records and signatures was passed last evening.
Walrond in her presentation last evening before the bill’s passage, stated that it seeks to put in place “certain key features of the legal framework of a modernized state.”
According to her, in the field of commerce, the bill will deliver a framework with well-defined rules for the conduct of commercial transactions by electronic means. “This framework will aid in delivering consistency and predictability in the business environment that is indispensable for the sustainability of trade and commerce”, she said.
Similarly, in the public sphere, she said the bill will provide the means by which transactions can be conducted with public authorities via electronic means. “This will also contribute to the improvement in the business environment but equally importantly it will lead to a radical improvement in the delivery of government services to individuals.”
Stressing that technology allows for things to be done faster, simpler and cheaper than conventional means, she stated that the bill is one part of a comprehensive plan in preparing Guyana for the digital economy “which is already upon us.”
The Electronic Commu-nications and Transaction Bill is expected to aid the government’s drive to develop a Single Window System.
Walrond last evening said, “So our efforts in bringing these bills in the ICT sector are part and parcel of a comprehensive modernization and transformational agenda. This agenda is all-encompassing and includes the state, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and individual citizens.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall during his presentation pointed out that the bill in its current state has sixty-eight pages calling it a large piece of legislation as he stressed that the bill seeks to transition in a fundamental way all-recognized transactions that are manually done to electronic or digital means.
He stressed that this piece of legislation is a part of a larger framework to transform to the digital era when conducting transactions.
