PRESIDENT David Granger on Thursday sounded a warning that his Government will pursue those who have unlawfully confiscated state properties, even as he outlined his administration’s legislative agenda 2017, which includes the tabling of the State Assets Recovery Bill.Addressing the National Assembly as it reconvened following nine weeks of recess, President Granger also used the occasion to unveil his government’s legislative agenda for the next year, which he said is aimed at correcting a number of aberrations and will protect the interests of Guyanese by strengthening this country’s legal architecture.

“Your government, in this regard, is committed to promoting standards of probity in public office. We will ensure, also, that those who unlawfully expropriate state property are brought to justice. We will pursue the recovery of all stolen State assets,” the President asserted.

Government has already set up a State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) and has a bill in draft which, when passed into law, will see the unit transitioning into the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA).

The draft bill aims to recover unlawfully acquired state assets from public officers past and present through civil proceedings, and is in consonance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The Bill stipulates the functions of SARA to include investigating whether state property was obtained through unlawful conduct involving a public official or any other person and the tracing and identifying of property wherever situated, suspected to be state property obtained from unlawful conduct involving a public official or any other person.

The bill is a civil recovery and civil remedy bill, which means it is non-conviction based. However, the bill makes provisions for the director of the SARA to initiate criminal proceedings, if, or when the need arises. There are also provisions in the bill for the establishment of a State Assets Recovery Fund which will see SARA utilising 25 percent, while the remaining 75 percent will go into the Consolidated Fund.

Integrity Act
Granger said too that his administration will amend the Integrity Commission Act which will provide for a revised Code of Conduct for public officials, inter alia.

“Your government will seek, also, to improve the efficacy and efficiency of our immigration services by tabling the Immigration (Amendment) Bill to delink the Immigration Department from the Guyana Police Force. The National Registration (Amendment) Bill will guard against identity theft by allowing for inclusion of the biometrics of citizens to be recorded on their national registration cards.”

The President said the justice administration system will be fortified by the promulgation of three important pieces of legislation: The Witness Protection Bill, which he said will give effect to the Caribbean Community’s Agreement Establishing the Regional Justice Protection Programme (1999), which came into force in 2006. The ‘Bill’ provides for the establishment of a programme to protect certain witnesses and other persons.

The Protected Disclosures Bill, referred to as the ‘Whistleblowers Bill,’ aims at combating corruption and other wrongdoing by encouraging and facilitating persons to make disclosures of improper conduct.

The Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (Amendment) Bill will provide for a change in membership of the governing board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries.

“Your Government will pay greater attention to safety in the aviation sector and on our roadways. The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Bill will provide for the establishment of an authority to investigate aircraft accidents and incidents. A safer aviation sector will be pursued through the modernising of civil aviation legislation and the amendment of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation Act to strengthen the airport’s executive and operational functions and capabilities. The Road Act (Amendment) Bill will place emphasis on the removal of derelict vehicles and impose weight limits.”

Stable industrial climate
Additionally, President Granger said a stable industrial climate is integral to protecting the rights of workers and ensuring an environment that is conducive to workers’ well-being. To this end, he said the administration will table the Industrial Relations Tribunal Bill, which will provide, inter alia, for the establishment of an independent tribunal to settle industrial and labour disputes.

“Your government will amend the Marriage Act to put new procedures in place for non-nationals applying for a Special Marriage Licence. The Tobacco Control Bill will contribute to the protection of the health of our citizens.”

The President told the House that his administration intends to make Guyana safe for this and future generations, noting that they will do so not only by combatting crime and criminals, but in uprooting the causes of crime and its links with transnational crime.

“We established a National Security Committee. We are in the process of establishing a new National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) to address the mother of all crimes – the trafficking in narcotics. We will establish a new National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) to ensure better surveillance of our borders and coasts.”

He said too that government has taken a decision to re-engage the United Kingdom with a view to restoring the aborted Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP). The plan will commence soon with the arrival of experts from the United Kingdom to advise us on crafting a national security response to domestic and transnational crime – including narcotics-trafficking and gun-running.

Granger, a former commander of the military, said aerial surveillance over the maritime zone over the past year has led to a reduction in the incidence of piracy and this will continue, even as it augments the Guyana Police Force’s Marine Branch.

“The Mounted Branch will also be expanded to enable it to conduct patrols in the savannahs and back-dams, which are not easily accessible by vehicular patrols. The Corps of Wardens will enforce the law with regard to mining, logging, hunting wildlife and trafficking in persons in the hinterland.”