CCJ ruling effectively expunged cross-dressing offence from law books - Ramkarran
respected and regarded as equal. Apart from what they say are difficulties with getting rid of the law owing to the savings law clause, senior attorneys have also opined that this would be an uphill task since there is currently no functional Law Reform Commission (LRC).
The commission’s role is the reforming of the country’s legislation, ensuring that it meets international standards.
Established by the Law Reform Commission Act No. 4 of 2016, the independent body is to consist of not less than three or more than seven members who are to be appointed by the president, acting after consultation with the Minister of Legal Affairs.
The Act is to provide for the establishment of a Law Reform Commission for keeping under review the laws of Guyana for the purpose of their simplification, modernisation, systemic development and reform, and for connected matters.
Among other things, the commission’s functions are to receive and consider suggestions for the reform of the law which may be forwarded to it either on the invitation of the commission or otherwise, by judges, public officials, lawyers and members of the general public.
Though Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams had earlier said that the commission was in a state of readiness to commence operations, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan on Monday during his 2019 budget presentation alluded to the contrary being the reality.
In response to questions posed in the National Assembly by Opposition Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall, Williams in June of this year had said that the LRC was almost up and running.
Stating that the commission was in its “final stages of readiness,” Williams had declared that persons had already been interviewed for the positions of commissioners and salary scales had already been worked out.
According to the AG, while no remuneration package had been approved for members of the LRC, he did identify the positions and listed the gross monthly salaries of the staff members who had been hired at that point.
He had said that one legal officer was hired and being paid a gross salary of $700,000; two legal clerks were each receiving $150,000; three typists each receiving $130,000; two office assistants each receiving $100,000; a driver receiving $120,000; and a cleaner receiving $75,000.
He had even identified a lot 59 Robb Street Bourda, Georgetown location where he said the commission would be housed and for which the government would have been paying a monthly rental of $850,000.
The rental was to run from December 1st of last year to today—November 30 th , 2018 both days included.
A visit by the Stabroek News to that address last Friday, however, revealed a known grocery store which has been operating at that location for decades. It is still unclear where the commission’s building is located.
The government had disclosed that it had lodged $1.7 million as a security deposit as part of its rental agreement for any loss or damage to the property which was to be refunded upon completion of the tenancy.
The building was rented from Peter’s Hall, East Bank residents—Michael and Michelle Wharton. The agreement was entered into between the Whartons and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Delma Nedd, on behalf of the government on November 14th, 2017.
During his budget presentation on Monday, Jordan said that the LRC is expected to be become fully operational in the New Year, though he did not say exactly when or give any time frame.
Additionally, contrary to what Williams had indicated, Jordan told the House that the commissioners of the LRC are being identified, and once fully constituted and operational, the commission is anticipated to commence its critical role in the updating of laws in 2019.