– by Kimberly Giddings

Attorney General Anil Nandlall says Guyana’s rapid development is being matched by an expanding legal framework, with new legislation and reforms being introduced to support the country’s transformation.

Speaking on the Starting Point podcast on Sunday, Nandlall said the government has been strengthening the legal framework since taking office in 2020, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

He highlighted the Local Content Act, which aims to protect local employment and strengthen Guyanese businesses, along with recently passed oil-spill legislation.

“The development cannot take place without a commensurate legal architecture to go with it. I’ve always said that the most transformational projects in whatever field of endeavor requires a legal framework to cradle it,” he said.

Beyond economic regulations, the Attorney General pointed to reforms within the justice system, particularly changes intended to reduce delays in criminal proceedings.

He reminded that preliminary inquiries have been abolished with the intent of reducing the time accused persons spend waiting for a determination on whether their cases should go to trial.

“Now we have abolished that and we have replaced it with something called paper committal. Where the police take all the evidence, all the statements from the various witnesses, they are submitted to the DPP. The DPP reads the paper. If the DPP wishes more information, gets the police to take additional statements, study the file and make a recommendation, makes a recommendation,” the AG explained.

The Attorney General highlighted investments in court infrastructure, judicial appointments and technology to improve access to justice across Guyana, including hinterland communities. 

He said the High Court backlog that previously caused delays of five to 10 years have been eliminated, but acknowledged that delays persist at the Court of Appeal and in the delivery of judgments. 

Nandlall stressed the need to ensure judges meet the legal requirement to deliver decisions within 120 days after hearings and submissions conclude.