An analysis by Atika Stephens
FOLLOWING the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s ascent to office in 1992, a number of   significant laws have been passed in Parliament.
These laws presented a new set of legal rules for the conduct of Guyanese affairs after 28 years of PNC dictatorship.
In October 2006, the Ninth Parliamentary session commenced. During this period several new and comprehensive legislations were introduced.
This feature seeks to provide the readers with information on Bills presented in Parliament for the duration of October 2009 to the present time.
During this period 20 Bills were presented and passed in Parliament.  Sixteen of these are now Acts, while the other four Bills are with the Special Select Committee. The Bills umbrella a wide range of issues affecting different sections of society.
The following is a list of the approved Bills in Parliament, categorized by sectors.

Ministry of Home Affairs
Bill No.42 of 2009- Fires and Casualties (Amendment) Bill 2009

This Bill “inserts a new subsection, which provides that a magistrate shall hold a public inquiry into any fire causality where the report from the Guyana fire service discloses sufficient reasons for holding and inquiry”.

Bill No.34 of 2009-Fugitive Offenders (amendment) Bill2009.  This act “makes provision with respect to fugitive offenders from and to Guyana and other related matters”.

Bill No.41 of 2009- Fire service (amendment) Bill 2009-This bill sought to amend the fire service Act (Cap.22:02). This bill will undoubtedly improve the capacity of the Guyana Fire Service.

Bill No.46 of 2009-Mutual Assistance In criminal Matters Bill 2009- This  bill has  become  an Act on 9/06/2010, it seeks   to provide   “effect to the  scheme relating to mutual assistance  in criminal matters within the  commonwealth and  to provide  for  mutual assistance  in criminal matters  between Guyana  and countries that  have  a treaty with Guyana  concerning such assistance”.
Bill No 4 of 2010 –Pounds (Amendment) Bill 2010. This Bill seeks to “amend section 4 of  the pounds  Act, (Cap.71:04), to increase the fee from  one thousand to five thousand  dollars [this is ] to be paid  to a  stray catcher or  any other person that takes a n animal to  the pound” . This has been a great move towards the improvement of alleviating strays   from the street, thus helping to prevent road accidents.

Bill No.43 of 2009- Prison (Amendment) Act 2009-    It addresses the issues on the rights and responsibilities of the prison officers.

Ministry of Finance

Bill No.39 of 2009- National Insurance and Social Security (Amendment) bill 2009-
Is an Act which seeks to amend the   already existing National Insurance and Social security Act which aims at seeing faulty employers punished should they withhold the NIS contributions of their employees.

Bill No.5 of 2010 –Fiscal Enactments (Amendment) Bill 2010: seeks to amend the income tax and the corporation Tax Act.

Bill No.48 of 2009- supplementary Appropriation( No.2 for 2009, Bill No.1of 2010)Supplementary Appropriation(No.3 for 2009)  along with the Appropriation Bill 2010(Bill No.2 of 2010)   are Acts  “to provide  for the issue  from Consolidated Fund  of the  sums  necessary  to meet the expenditure  of  Guyana for the  Fiscal year” in which they end.  The above mentioned Acts under the Ministry of Finance attempts at governmental transparency and accountability which is in keeping with Governments’ commitment in maintaining a sound macro- economic environment while protecting the interest of the people.

Ministry of Local Government

Bill No.47 of 2009 Local Authorities (elections amendment) No.2 Bill 2009 -this bill was assented to 13/01/2010 and seeks to amend the Local Authority’s Election Act to provide for the postponement of councilors of Local Democratic organs.  In recognizing the inevitability of a deferral of the elections, an amendment to the Local Authorities Bill was passed to extend the date by which Local Government elections will be held.

Ministry of Agriculture

There was also the Guyana Livestock Development Authority Act(Act No.1 of 2010)- this Act seeks to develop the ( GLDA) in addition to  making provisions for effective administration and regulation for that industry.

The Rice  Factories Act on the  other hand   seeks to ensure that farmers are  paid  by  millers  within  a  stipulated  time frame. It also states that millers will be fined if they do not adhere to the payment deadline.
In carefully analyzing these Bills according to their sectors, it is evident that these newly introduced laws seek to meet the needs and interests of society.