Dear Editor,
It is most pleasing to learn that Guyana’s Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, recently, in a most formal manner, presented ‘updated’ copies of the revised Laws of Guyana to His Excellency, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and Honourable Prime Minister, Mark Phillips. As was pointed out in the press, this marked a ‘major’ step in the modernization and consolidation of the country’s legal framework.
First a word on this event, as too many are wont to treat it with a silly levity. I emphasize therefore that countries ‘must continuously update its legal framework.’ This is to adapt to, and even adopt where necessary, the relentless ‘evolving’ technology, shifting social values and mores, and for sure, the almost daily changing global standards we are immersed in. Any lassitude then can lead to a country’s economy becoming stagnant, its laws, if not obsolete and irrelevant, at least to being non-tenable, leaving the particular state to being susceptible and most ill-equipped to handle the plethora of modern challenges.
The flip side is that when countries continually update their legal frameworks, it protects, even as it leads to an economy that is typically advancing. I firmly state that what the AG is involved in (as typified in the volumes he presented) is that he is bringing Guyana in collimation with places like the European Union Australia, Germany, and the UAE, as these countries consistently modernize their laws to keep pace with global changes in technology, data security, and human rights.
Let’s remember that Guyana has to frequently amend laws to govern emerging modern technologies, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic shifts. Some key areas are always demanding legislative reform-AI governance, climate change, gig-economy, employment standards, and data privacy.
Encomiums then are most deservedly heaped upon the Attorney General and his chambers for being in tandem with reality, and for not allowing Guyana to slumber towards irrelevance.
I add a second word and it is that to be in comity and on par with voluminous and continuous legal reforms is a perennially arduous challenge, all because of the massive volume of new legislations, regulatory changes, and shifting case laws. The ongoing relentless global evolution just seems to manufacture significant compliance risks, operational inefficiencies, and uncertainty for legal professionals and everyday citizens alike. Navigating this ever-changing legal landscape effectively requires structured systems and targeted approaches. In others words, this calls for legal perspicuity, assiduity and almost omni-awareness.
For example, just consider what was achieved (please)? It is that “The revised compilation consists of 19 volumes, along with an index and a chronological table of enactments dating back to 1831 … the laws have been revised and updated to reflect legislation in force up to December 31, 2022.” Let that soak in.
And as per the report in the press, “… the Attorney General’s Chambers explained that the updated collection is expected to improve access to Guyana’s legal system for legal professionals, public institutions, businesses, and members of the public.” And as expected, and as I intimated, this kind of work is ongoing, and soon the laws will be electronically accessible through a user-friendly digital format, a move aimed at increasing public access and improving legal research capabilities.” And we need this so much!
I need not go on but just to encourage the public, that according to the AG, the revised laws, the recently launched Law Reports of Guyana, covering the years 2008 to 2021, will soon be available for purchase … also that this legal bestowal of the volumes forms part of broader efforts to modernize Guyana’s legal infrastructure and improve the accessibility of legal information.”
After all, Readers, Guyana’s legal framework must continue to undergo modernization to support its rapid economic transformation and energy boom. Sweeping legislative updates across corporate law, civil procedures, and the energy sector will make the country’s business climate far more robust and accountable. Mohabir Anil Nandlall SC, MP, as the leading figure who is spearheading this modernization of Guyana’s legal framework must continue to drive this massive legislative overhaul, so that Guyana will be aligned with the needs of a rapidly transforming, multi-billion-dollar oil and gas economy. He must keep updating in areas such as modernizing business laws, labor codes, or environmental regulations. These are necessary to drive economic growth, attract foreign investment, and improve societal well-being.
Nandlall, I remind all can be trusted, as he has been the central figure in major constitutional and public law cases. His legal advocacy was panegyrically recognised and by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) during the pivotal 2020 election challenges. We honour his pivotal role in drafting and passing many pieces of critical, modern legislations-reforms such as the modernization of the Arbitration Act, anti-money laundering (AML) legislation, and health-related legal frameworks to accommodate Guyana’s rapid economic development.
Editor, “If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.” That is, it must be relevant and robust in its time and place.