The Laws of Guyana are expected to be fully revised by June 2025, according to Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC. The update, which spans from 2012 to 2022, is currently underway and is being undertaken by Law Revision Centre, Anguilla.
Speaking at the Ministry of Legal Affairs’ year-end press conference on Saturday, Nandlall explained that the last revision of the laws occurred in 2012, with the previous update dating back to 1977. “We are currently undertaking another revision, covering the years from 2012 to 2022. This process is ongoing,” he said. The Attorney-General noted that while the revision was initially projected to conclude this year, delays arose due to the workload at the Law Revision Centre in Anguilla, the only facility of its kind in the Caribbean. “We must accommodate their workload. They are the sole centre providing this service in the entire region, so you can imagine their schedule. This has contributed to the delay,” Nandlall explained.
Despite the setbacks, progress has been made, the Attorney General disclosed that covers for the volumes have already been received and that, once completed, the revised laws will be printed locally at the National Printers. “We have been receiving the volumes incrementally, but we cannot proceed until all are finalized,” he added. Nandlall also highlighted that before commencing the current revision, unresolved issues from the 2012 update had to be addressed. These included rectifying omissions and errors that occurred between 1977 and 2012. He described the task as arduous and time-consuming but emphasized that these challenges had to be resolved before moving forward. The Law Revision Centre has set June 2025 as the completion deadline, with the launch of the revised laws anticipated by July 2025.
During the press conference, Nandlall also provided updates on several new pieces of legislation currently in development. Among them are the Food Security Bill, being crafted in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Medicine Regulations Bill, which is being developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health. He noted that other pieces of legislation are also in the works across various ministries, all aimed at addressing emerging needs and strengthening Guyana’s legal framework.