ATTORNEY GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., has announced a massive, transformational legislative agenda that the government has set out for 2022.

He made the announcement during his presentation on the final day of the national budget debate, Friday.
Themed, “Steadfast against all challenges, resolute in building our One Guyana,’ this year’s budget of $552.9 billion contains a raft of measures to create wealth for all Guyanese and improve their livelihoods. This follows the $383.1 billion national budget in 2021.

“The aggregate budgeted sum of a mammoth $552 billion constitutes, by far, the largest financial injection, ever, into the Guyanese economy. I have said elsewhere, it is like injecting a racehorse with a huge dose of steroid before the race begins.

“Without the gigantic spin-off benefits destined to flow therefrom, the mere expenditure of this massive sum will invigorate every corner of this nation with a level of commercial, economic, and social activity never witnessed before,” the Attorney General articulated on Friday.

In outlining some of the potential legislations, Minister Nandlall said there is the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2021; Hire-Purchase Bill; Evidence (Amendment) Bill; Suicide Prevention Bill; Border Patrol Bill; Wills (Amendment) Bill; Restorative Justice Bill, among many others.

In his presentation, the Attorney General said that many of these Bills have already been sent to the respective ministries for review.
Additionally, Minister Nandlall said the recently established Law Reform Commission will move into gear in 2022.

“Last week I met with them, and they promised that within a month they will complete their work programme for the year 2022, their first full year in office. I have requested that they meet with certain important stakeholder organisations in our country and to receive recommendations for law reform. The work of this commission will further augment the government’s legislative agenda,” the Attorney General said.

Friday is the final day of the Budget 2022 debate. Next week, the National Assembly will transition into the Committee of Supply to consider the budgetary estimates.

(DPI)