GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government says the country’s oil spill legislation is nearing completion. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, says the final draft is almost completed.
“The work is significantly completed. I want to relook at one part of the bill. And I plan to do it before the end of the year,” he told reporters. He added that the legislation will outline the state’s responsibilities and those responsible for an oil spill, whether they are companies operating in the sector or a shipping company.
Nandlall said the new legislation will strengthen the government’s capacity to ensure full liability coverage and guide its preparation, planning, and response to an oil spill.
He told reporters that the bill is a multi-stakeholder initiative involving the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agencies, and the Civil Defence Commission.
The bill’s first draft had received input from several other key state agencies, including the Maritime Administration Association (MARAD).
The government has been adamant that while several measures are already in place to address any potential oil spill, more comprehensive and robust legislation is necessary.
The government also amends the Integrity Commission Act to clamp down on persons who refuse to declare their assets honestly. Nandlall said this process is also nearing completion.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira recently said that the amendments will establish formal guidelines for electronic declarations and implement advanced cybersecurity technology to safeguard uploaded data.
Additionally, the government plans to strengthen some aspects of the reporting mechanism and is exploring stricter penalties for those who fail to comply.
The Integrity Commission Act was enacted in 1997 to deter corruption and promote transparency and accountability in public life. The Integrity Commission is an independent body that oversees and enforces the Act.
Meanwhile, Nandlall says the comprehensive law revision process is expected to be completed by June 2025, noting that the last law revision process was conducted in 2012.
“The deadline that I have from the Law Revision Centre is June of next year. So by July, hopefully, we should be launching it,” Nandlall said.
He said law revision is essential in ensuring that Guyana’s laws remain consistent and efficient. The process ensures that the laws keep pace with societal changes, technological advancements, and emerging challenges.
Nandlall acknowledged some delays in the process but emphasized the massive scope of work that it entails.
“We have been passing many laws, and much work was not completed in the 2012 version. We had to first…make corrections. Because of that period – from 1977 to 2012 – to cover that expanse was a Herculean task. Naturally, errors and omissions were made, and we had first to correct them.”
The Attorney General said the company conducting the revision process—the Regional Revision Centre Inc. in Anguilla—is the only facility of its kind in the Caribbean, and its workload is massive.
“We have to wait on their workload. They’re the only center offering this service in the entire region. So, you can imagine their agenda. So that has led to a delay,” he said.
The covers for these volumes have already been procured, and once completed, the revised laws will also be made available in soft copy or electronic format.
Guyana’s law reports are also slated to be completed by June 2025. Nandlall notes that Guyana has one of the oldest law reporting systems in the Caribbean, with reports dating back to the 18th century.
“What we are completing now is from 2008 to 2022. All the major decisions. That, again, is another massive undertaking,” he added.
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