INTERVIEWS were recently completed for prospective commissioners for the Law Reform Commission, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams disclosed.
In a written response to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) member and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall on the status of the Law Reform Commission, Williams disclosed that interviews were conducted on June 19 and 20, 2018, for commissioners. “No commissioner has been appointed, however, interviews were conducted for Commissioners on the 19th and 20th June, 2018,” Williams said in his response.

Earlier this year, notices were published in the national newspapers by the Ministry of Legal Affairs seeking applications from suitable candidates to sit on the Commission. The Attorney General said too that remuneration for the commissioners who are to be appointed has not been approved.

“No remuneration has been approved,” said Williams. Back in 2016, Williams had said the much-anticipated Commission would come on stream the following year. He was at the time making his contribution to the 2017 Budget Debate in the National Assembly. Government used its majority in 2016 to pass the Law Reform Commission Bill 2015.
Though the Law Reform Commission is in its final stage of readiness and commissioners are yet to be appointed, a legal officer, two legal clerks, three typists, an office assistant, cleaner and driver have been hired. The Legal Officer is being paid a gross salary of $700,000, while the legal clerks are being paid $150,000 each, the typists are paid $130,000 each, office assistants are being paid $100,000 while the cleaner and driver are being paid gross salaries of $75,000 and $120,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, Williams disclosed too that the aforementioned persons are being housed at a rented building located at Lot 59 Robb Street, Bourda, Georgetown. He said the government of Guyana has entered into a rental agreement with Michael and Michelle Wharton on November 14, 2017 for the rental of the aforementioned premises.
According to the agreement, which was provided by Williams, the government is renting the middle and top floors of the building located at 59 Robb Street Bourda. The building is being rented for $850,000 monthly and the agreement of tenancy will expire on November 30, 2018. In agreeing to rent the premises, the government lodged $1,700,000 as a security deposit for loss or damage to the said premises. The said agreement was signed by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Delma Nedd.

The Law Reform Commission Bill seeks to establish a permanent Law Reform Commission to reform and modernise Guyana’s laws. “The laws of Guyana are long overdue for review, as the majority were inherited from our colonial masters and have not been subject to reform since their inheritance,” Williams had said during the debate on the Bill. “Many are archaic and irrelevant to our society,” he added, while emphasising that a permanent Law Reform Commission will work continuously to ensure that Guyana’s laws are fair, relevant and effective in serving and protecting the interests of the people. The bill, along with several amendments tabled by Williams, was passed despite pleas from opposition speakers for it to be referred to a parliamentary Special Select Committee for review.

Williams had said then that in the past, approaches to law review in Guyana has mostly been reactive and the legislation will remedy what was an inefficient, piecemeal approach to law reform. He said the commission will comprise no less than three and no more than seven commissioners with a chairman to be elected by and from the members of the commission. The bill, he said, provides for commissioners to be appointed by the President acting after consultation with the Minister of Legal Affairs.