ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has tabled in the National Assembly the Civil Law (Rights of Persons in Common Law Union) Bill 2012, and The Official Gazette Bill 2012. The Civil Law Bill seeks to provide for the rights of persons in a common-law union in intestate (dying without leaving a legal will) succession.
Clause Two of the bill allows for a single woman living with a single man in a common-law union for not less than five years, or vice versa, to have the same powers and rights regarding intestate succession under the law as a widow or widower or a surviving spouse.
However, only one such union shall be considered for any benefit. In addition, Clause Three, Section 2 (6) (a) of the Family and Dependents Provision Act is also amended, substituting “seven years”  for “five years” to make the section concurrent with other laws relating to a common-law union.
Minister Nandlall also tabled the Official Gazette Bill 2012, which provides specifically for the publication of the Official Gazette, and declares past Official Gazettes as legally printed and published.
This bill provides for both a printed version and an electronic version of the Official Gazette. The latter will be accessible from an Official Gazette Website of the Government.
Additionally, both shall be published simultaneously, and a copy of any version shall be accepted as ‘prima facie’ evidence of any law, advertisement, notice or other publication.