ATTORNEY General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, has agreed to meet with the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) during which time he plans to raise a number of issues.
The AG’s plans were disclosed in a press statement on Saturday. According to that statement, Minister Williams by letter dated June 14, 2017, extended congratulations to the newly elected President, Executives and Committee Members of the GBA.

In that letter, the Attorney General accepted the Bar Council’s invitation to a meeting. As head of the Bar, Minister Williams intends to raise a number of concerns including the need for Attorneys-at-law to be supervised by a supervisory authority to ensure compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) ACT, Cap. 10:11.
Additionally, he would try to ascertain whether the membership of the Bar Association should be extended to State Attorneys.

Continuing legal education for Attorneys-at-law in Guyana, and the structure of the bar are among other areas to be covered by the Attorney General.
In the letter to the Association, Minister Williams thanked the association for its willingness, as expressed in their letter to him dated June 2, 2017, to assist and collaborate on the administration of justice.

Attorney Kamal Ramkaran was late May, 2017 elected President of the GBA. In addition to Ramkarran, Senior Counsel, Robin Stoby was elected first Vice-President; Teni Housty, second Vice-President and Devindra Kissoon Treasurer. Other elected officials include: Pauline Chase, Secretary and Faye Barker, Assistant Secretary. The committee members are: Rajendra Poonai, Jamela Ali, Sanjeev Datadin, Mark Waldron, Rexford Jackson and Brenden Glasford. The association’s election was held in the High Court.