Ministry of Legal Affairs

‘They’re punishing our students’ - The Chronicle Newspaper - 9th December, 2018

Details

Published: 10 December 2018

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Basil Williams SC

…AG calls on Guyanese to join fight for law school
…accuses Nandlall of blackmail; says CLE shifting positions

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams SC has said that all Guyanese including the parliamentary opposition should work together to push for the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School here in Guyana. Additionally, he accused his predecessor of blackmailing the government by writing secret letters to the Council of Legal Education saying Guyana was never given approval to open a school.

The minister made the statement as he spoke at the 2019 Budget Debates on Friday. “The hardships suffered by our young people in Trinidad—we can’t even begin to describe…They are punishing our students,” Williams said emotionally. As such, he posited: “This nation must call for this law school to be built”. According to him, it is urgent now more than ever to establish this school because of the continued discriminatory practices against Guyanese students and because of crucial need for local skills, when Guyana transforms into an economic “hub” by 2020. The minister spoke in detail about the continued hardships faced by Guyanese students studying at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), in Trinidad and Tobago.

“They (HWLS) are allotting to us, Guyana—a founding member of CARICOM [and] a signatory to the Council of Legal Education (CLE)… they are reducing us to 25 students while they are churning out students there,” he said.

He contended that 250 students graduate each year from the law schools in Trinidad and Jamaica, yet only 25 Guyanese are allowed entry. The minister further highlighted that by 2020, Guyana will undoubtedly become an economic hub that will need lawyers to boost local capacity. And while acknowledging that the quota of emerging Guyanese lawyers will be significantly less, he explained: “That means we are going to employ all those lawyers that they are churning out at the expense of Guyanese lawyers.”

This, he noted, is a gross injustice to Guyanese minds and the nation must continue to press for the establishment of the local Law school so that more students would be able to pursue studies in law. Just recently, he noted that his ministry successfully hosted stakeholders in the law field- including representatives of the CLE, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and personnel from the three Caribbean Law schools (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Bahamas).

Despite this, he said: “The Joseph Haynes Law School (JHLS) was subjected to another shifting of the CLE’s position to deny Guyana its right to establish a law school.” In September of this year, CLE Chairman Reginald Armour announced that the Government of Guyana and its joint-venture partners, the Law School of the Americas (LCA) and the University College of the Caribbean (UCC), have been asked to revisit the feasibility study for the establishment of the school. Citing the study submitted as non-compliant to the standards of the CLE, Armour has also indicated that study does not satisfy the quality assurance that the CLE requires and the body needs to see a proposed curriculum.

Nevertheless, the AG affirmed on Friday that the government will make every effort to ensure that this law school comes to fruition. The Government of Guyana and the Council of Legal Education (CLE) had previously agreed to revisit the feasibility study and business plan for the establishment of the law School.

“We will continue pressing the CLE, the Bar Association, the Judiciary, the Department of Law at the University of Guyana and the opposition for their support of the establishment of this law school,” he stressed.

The AG’s statements came at the heels of the contentions raised by Opposition Parliamentarian and Former Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall that the current AG’s office is “devoid” of any substantial programmes and was operating in a “piecemeal manner”. Antagonising members of the government, Nandlall said: “It is one thing to say that you lose law books, it is another thing to say that you lose cases, it is another thing to say that you lose chairmanship of your party… but when you lose a whole school that is cause for concern.”

Responding to this, the AG Williams accused Nandlall of writing the chairman of the CLE to block the setting up the school. “He wrote, he emailed the chairman of the CLE to tell him don’t worry with this school. We didn’t get permission to support it. That is what he did and that is why he had to leave in disgrace,” Williams said of Nandlall, who had stepped out of the National Assembly Chambers at the time.

Gov’t to ramp up anti-corruption war - The Chronicle Newspaper - 8th December, 2018

Details

Published: 10 December 2018

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams SC

…AG naming of suspects roils opposition

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams SC on Friday riled up the opposition after mentioning the names of corruption suspects here currently before the courts—many of whom are former government ministers—some sitting as members of parliament.

At one point the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland had to caution Williams not to mention names after vociferous complaints by the opposition. Williams was at the time making his contributions to the budget debate during which time he outlined that the APNU/AFC Government continues to have combatting corruption on the front burner. “The government has been working to fight against all forms of corruption and our policy is that corruption must be eliminated. This government recognises that corruption hinders economic growth and development and undermines public confidence in the administration.

The government therefore continues to strengthen its anti-corruption mechanisms and formulate strategies to ensure that all Guyanese, not some, can enjoy the good life,” Williams told the House.

She spoke of the many seminars the AG Chambers has held and promised that these will continue along with training programmes next year. He then turned his attention to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) noting that this agency continues to be focused on money laundering, weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorist financing, given that the Fourth Round Mutual Evaluation in 2022 requires more convictions to show sufficient progress on effectiveness by the law enforcement agencies more specifically, the SOCU of the Guyana Police Force.

According to Williams SOCU has seen significant improvement in the number of files referred for prosecution for its core function and other financial crimes. “Mr. Speaker, since the amendment to the AML/CFT Act which made money laundering a hybrid offence the FIU during the period October 2017 to October 2018, submitted eighteen (18) ML/TF referrals to SOCU inclusive of Mr. Shervington Lovell. This has resulted in several criminal and civil files for prosecution including one (1) ML file referred for prosecution and two (2) Civil Forfeiture applications to the High Court.

Additionally, the AG mentioned that the cases referred for prosecution over this period includes the GBTI cases, the Omar Shariff case where the former Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President is being investigated for $20 billion dollars; Guyana Gold Board, Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington- who are on eight charges of misconduct, GRDB case (132 counts of keeping fraudulent accounts of body corporate or public company($428,328,940) involving PPP MPs Dharamkumar Seeraj and Nigel Dharmlall; MP Anil Nandlal who has been charged with one count of larceny by a bailee ($2,313,853) , Irfaan Ali-19 counts (Pradoville Two lands-$174,824,388) and Guyana Marketing Corporation ($31,588,303).

“Mr. Speaker this figure is excluding twenty two other forensic audits/ corruption type investigations involving billions of Guyana Dollars. Currently, there are more than 40 files awaiting the decision of the Honourable Chief Justice, Madam Justice Roxanne George with respect to the issue of misconduct in public office. Further, there are about 14 other files awaiting evidence from State agencies for criminal charges to be instituted. Mr. Speaker, there are several investigations that have been held up as a result of the Magistrate Court’s refusal to grant Court Orders where there are no pending cause or matter before the court. This is pursuant to the Evidence Act Cap. 5:03.”

Repossession of lands

Touching on the work of the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), Williams said this body’s role is to recover stolen national wealth. He said the agency has been working on 25 cases referred to them by the police legal advisor plus other referrals. Presently, the agency has five cases, which are 90 per cent complete and are only held up because requests for information have not yet been fulfilled. Additionally, several agencies are still going through mountains of old documents to find the relevant pieces of information which are needed to wrap up cases. “Mr. Speaker, there are another 12 cases with a possible recovery value of over two billion dollars that are about 70 per cent complete. SARA, working with NICIL, was able to have three pieces of government property repossessed from delinquent leasees. Two of these properties are again on the market and interested parties are prepared to pay 300 per cent – 400 per cent more than the previous tenants. The third piece of property was sold to GRA for $60M.”

Williams said SARA, working alongside the various agencies which have the responsibility for lands, was able to provide information, which led to the Guyana Forestry Commission repossessing approximately 2,000,000 acres of forestry lands; Lands and Survey Department repossessing approximately 80 house lots; GuySuCo was able to repossess 100 acres of land plus several smaller pieces. “Further, Mr. Speaker, SARA, working with ministries and regions led to improved inventories of equipment and the repossession and reallocation of more than 30 buildings across the country.”

According to the AG, SARA working with the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeking to recover revenue loss through gold shipments leaving Guyana. “There have been several cases where amounts declared at Cheddi Jagan Airport were vastly different to what was declared at J.F.K. in New York.” He said SARA is also presently seeking cooperation with Brazil to identify and if possible recover gold held in Brazil due to illegal activities by Guyanese smugglers. Williams said since corruption is at the root cause of government property being stolen, the less the nation loses, the less the need to recover, hence SARA has made meaningful contributions to the anti-corruption efforts.

“Mr. Speaker, available figures as cited in a series of articles written 2012-2014 show the Government of Guyana losing billions per annum in procurement fraud. Tens of billions were lost in illicit capital flight and tens of billions due to the activities of the underground economy. While the analysts in SARA are still working to obtain current figures using three international indices as references, we have moved several points in the right direction,” the attorney general said.

Gov’t to expand legal aid service - The Chronicle Newspaper - 27th November, 2018

Details

Published: 29 November 2018

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC, gestures as he enters the Parliament chambers (Samuel Maughn photo)

…full complement of judges, magistrates for 2019

GOVERNMENT will be expanding legal aid access in 2019, including legal assistance in the defence of minor and non-violent offenders, as well as increase the use of restorative justice.

This was announced by Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his budget presentation on Monday. In announcing that some $3.6B has been budgeted for the justice sector, Jordan told the house that a draft restorative justice bill has already been submitted to the Attorney General‘s Chambers for review. The draft bill, he said, emphasises alternative dispute resolution mechanisms which seek to repair the harm caused by criminal behavior, by facilitating constructive mediation between stakeholders.

To this end, he said that in 2019 the government will endeavour to establish a restorative justice office, as well as train around 1,200 persons across the justice sector on restorative justice. With respect to alternative sentencing measures, the government will be developing judicial policies for non-custodial measures. This will reduce the pre-trial detention by five per cent and recidivism by at least two per cent by 2021, Minister Jordan said. “We will also continue to improve the dispensation of justice, with provision being made to add another courthouse in Region One,” in addition to the four new courthouses being set up in 2018 in Grove/Diamond, Bartica, Mahdia and Kwakwani, he said.

Complement of judges
Additionally, Jordan said the government will support the judiciary as they seek to expand their complement of magistrates and judges, noting that the $3.6B allocation represents an increase of 15.8 percent over Budget 2017. The finance minister in noting that the rule of law serves as the backbone for any society, said that commissioners for the Law Reform Commission are being identified and once fully constituted and operational, the commission is anticipated to commence its critical role in the updating the laws of Guyana in 2019.

Further, with the unanimous passage of the Juvenile Justice Bill by the House, it signals a collective commitment to reform the approach in dealing with this part of the citizenry. The finance minister explained that the Act updates Guyana‘s juvenile justice system to be consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with the aim of guaranteeing juveniles access to legal assistance, re-insertion and diversion programmes, and providing children and adolescents to be accountable for their violations of the law.

“The new law incorporates diversionary measures, court appearances, sentencing, a Juvenile Justice Committee and support facilities such as a halfway house,” he said.
Additionally, Minister Jordan said that modern options and alternative measures are being explored prior to committing a child to a detention facility. “A costing of the implementation of this Act indicates that key cost drivers include, training and the establishment of a halfway house for which we will seek to identify suitable land in 2019,” he said.

AML/CFT regime
Jordan also touched on Guyana’s efforts in combatting money laundering and terrorist financing, saying that the country was proud to be elevated to Chair the Planning Level Committee of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). “As nations continue to collaborate in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, Guyana must keep abreast with the emerging regulations and practices, to protect the integrity of its financial system,” he asserted.

He said the national legal framework was further strengthened with the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill, which sought to satisfy Recommendation 2 of the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations by establishing a coordinating mechanism responsible for national AML/CFT policies. “We continued to build capacity, in 2018, with the training of judges and prosecutors in AML/CFT-related cases and Assessors Training. The government held sensitisation sessions on AML/CFT matters in Regions 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10. These sessions and training will continue in 2019, so that Guyana is fully prepared for its 4th Round Mutual Evaluation.”

Additionally, Jordan mentioned that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has also bolstered its capacity through the expansion of its reporting entities to over 200, and more categories of entities are expected to come on board in 2019, including cooperatives, commissioners of oaths and affidavits and auditors. The FIU also conducted 12 training seminars, in 2018, on AML/CFT directed at key stakeholders including banks, lottery agents and non-profit organisations. The Unit will be sourcing software, in 2019, in order to improve its intelligence gathering capabilities.

Adhere to FATF standards - The Chronicle Newspaper - 23rd November, 2018

Details

Published: 29 November 2018

Chairman of CFATF, Basil Williams SC and other officials at the head table

…Williams urges CFATF members to increase effectiveness to tackle financial crimes

CARIBBEAN countries have been urged to increase their levels of effectiveness in the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards amid heightened global risks of proliferation financing.

This was the charge given by Chairman of the Caribbean Action Task Force, Basil Williams SC, when he addressed the opening of the Caribbean Action Task Force Plenary and Working Groups Meeting being held in Bridgetown, Barbados over the next two days. Williams, who is also Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, is leading Guyana’s delegation to the conference.

He told the conference opening that coupled with the challenges of the Fourth Round of Mutual Evaluations, small member states are dealing with economies affected by low levels of financial growth, recovery from hurricanes and de-risking. “Resources are being stretched as we all use our best efforts to legislatively strengthen our AML/CFT frameworks, establish measures to deal with Proliferation Financing (PF) and implement the AML/CFT laws and processes that can be considered as ‘High’ or ‘Substantial’ levels of effectiveness,” Williams stressed.

He said under his tenure as chairman of the CFATF he was not daunted by these challenges, “instead, I was confident and remain confident that we as CFATF Members and as a Region will continue to improve our compliance with the FATF Standards and increase our levels of effective implementation.”

Williams told the meeting that the plenary meetings represent the Region’s ongoing commitment to the work of the CFATF as a member of the Global Network in the implementation of counter-measures to address Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Williams said during his term as Chair, CFATF has been able to assist with enhancing AML/CFT capacity in the Region through the hosting of Assessors’ Training in January of this year in Guyana. He said the event was followed by the AML/CFT/CVE Workshop for Judges and Prosecutors in May that saw the participation of forty participants from member countries comprising 15 judges, one Chief Magistrate and 24 Prosecutors, including; Directors of Public Prosecution, Deputy and Assistant Directors of Public Prosecution, Senior Crown Counsels, Principal Crown Counsel and Crown Counsel attended the workshop. Honourable Baroness Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary General also attended.
Williams also highlighted that during his participation in the Compliance Aid Conference in Miami, the High-Level Mission to St. Maarten and attendance at the FATF Plenary meetings, “I have advocated the work being done by the CFATF and our members, which is all aimed at improving our level of AML/CFT compliance. I am also happy to say that the 11th EDF Grant Agreement was successfully signed and is being implemented. This Project will provide much needed Fourth Round mutual evaluation funding directly for CFATF beneficiary members and also provide opportunities for participation for all CFATF Members.”

Chairman of CFATF and Attorney General, Basil Williams SC and his colleagues across the region at the opening of the conference

Additionally, Williams noted that during the past year CFATF has seen capacity building at the Secretariat, in terms of new staff appointments with the new Executive Director, Dawne Spicer, commencing her tenure on February 1st of this year. There was also the appointment of Deputy Executive Director Joanne Daniel, who took up the post on September 1st. This was followed by the revision of the Secretariat’s Organisational Chart and the appointment of Magdalene Walcott as the Director of Finance and Administration.
In addition to these senior management positions, a new Translator, Ayana Jack, and the appointment of Ellisha George as an Administrative Officer specifically dedicated to the Secretariat’s Mutual Evaluation Team. For the 11th EDF, Project Manager Andrew Frection and Senior Project Officer Beverley Perez have also become part of the CFATF. “To all of you I say congratulations on your appointments. I also take the opportunity to express my appreciation to all staff at the secretariat for their dedication and commitment to the membership. I had the opportunity to visit the secretariat in March of this year and see the operations firsthand.”

Williams stressed that CFATF has made progress in its Mutual Evaluation programme, noting that only one country St. Maarten has been left in Round Three, but following a High-Level Mission visit that he led in August, “I can say that there was a clear commitment to exiting the Third Round.”

In the Fourth Round he said there are five Mutual Evaluation Reports published (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda) and while the results could indeed be better, these countries continue to make progress.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a full agenda of relevant issues and the presentation of the Mutual Evaluation Report of the Cayman Islands, which allows us to focus on our primary function as a FATF-Style Regional Body (FSRB). Issues discussed in the Heads of FIU, CFATF Risk Trends and Methods (CRTMG) Working Group, CFATF International Cooperation Review Group (CFATF ICRG), and the Working Group on FATF Issues (WGFI) will all be presented over the next two days. Colleagues, your active participation in all discussions is essential to strengthening your understanding of the requirements of the FATF Standards and in so doing build our capacity as an organisation. Your active participation in the Mutual Evaluation process is crucial to the work of the organisation, while your engagement in the global discussions through responses to FATF documents allows us to have a much-needed Regional position on these important issues,” Williams told the opening.

During his remarks he also welcomed the body’s Cooperating and Supporting Nations (COSUNs), the FATF Secretariat and all observers, “who continue to place tremendous investment of human and financial resources over the years to assist our jurisdictions in building critical AML/CFT capacity. We value your generosity and remain committed to partnering with you throughout the Fourth Round of Mutual Evaluations and beyond.”

11 years without a lease - The Chronicle Newspaper - 2nd November, 2018

Details

Published: 02 November 2018

Former President Donald Ramotar on his way to be cross examined in the High Court by the Attorney General, Basil Williams. In this photo, he is accompanied by his attorney, Anil Nandlall (Photos by Samuel Maughn )

…Ramotar admits CJRCI occupied Red House without a lease
…confirms Jagdeo rejected applications thrice
…says his signature was not required to validate agreement

FORMER President Donald Ramotar, while dodging the question of whether Bharrat Jagdeo had rejected three applications for the leasing of Red House to the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Incorporated (CJRCI) as president, admitted in the High Court that CJRCI had occupied the historic building in the absence of a valid lease.

Attorney General Basil Williams entering the court room on Thursday at the High Court

The former Guyanese President, who served from November 2011-May, 2015, was grilled in the High Court as he was being cross-examined by the Attorney General Basil Williams on Thursday in a case brought against the present government over its decision to revoke the purported 99-year lease from CJRCI.

In the matter being presided by Acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, Ramotar, in the presence of his attorney, Anil Nandlall, confirmed his sworn affidavit dated January 30, 2017 and maintained that he approved the 99-year lease of the Red House, situated in High Street Kingston, to the CJRCI.

The immediate past President told the court that after the CJRCI was incorporated as a not-for-profit company in 2000 by himself – a founding member, and the late former President Janet Jagan, and her daughter Nadira Jagan-Brancier, he explored the possibility of entering into a lease agreement with the government to access the Red House. It was explained that it was the intention of the founding members to establish a library and research facility to showcase the work of the late President, Cheddi Jagan.

According to Ramotar, at the time, he was unaware that the Red House falls under the purview of National Trust of Guyana. Jogging the memory of the former President with supporting evidence, the attorney general asked him to confirm, one, whether the Red House Lease Agreement was signed on March 30, 2012. Ramotar responded in the positive.

It was at this stage that the attorney general sought to question the former President on the Chairman of the Management Committee of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Incorporated (CJRCI), Hydar Ally, but was met with objection by Nandlall.

Nandlall, in his client’s defence, told the court that the witness was appearing in the capacity of former President but even before he could have concluded his statement, the chief justice made it clear that Ramotar inserted himself into the matter when he tendered a sworn affidavit. Nandlall, at the start of the hearing, had raised the issue of presidential immunity but was reminded that the former President was not charged or sued but rather is simply a witness in the matter.

The chief justice also cautioned the attorney general about his line of questioning, stating that he cannot question Ramotar on information provided to the Court by Ally.
Adjusting his question, the attorney general asked Ramotar whether the Cheddi Jagan Research Institute in 2000 took possession of the Red House, though there was no finalised lease agreement.

Ramotar, while responding in the positive, said though there was no lease agreement in place between 2000 and 2011; approval had been granted to occupy the Red House. “I am not aware of what is stated in the court document but I am aware that they (CJRCI) entered (Red House) before the lease,” Ramotar told the Court while adding that he could not recall the exact date.

Jogging his memory again in the process, the attorney general then grilled the former President on an application made to the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys on May 2, 2006 for the lease of the Red House. Ramotar had filed the application on behalf of the centre. Though confirming his signature on the application, Ramotar told the Court that he was not involved in the day to day running of the institute. Interjecting again, Nandlall objected to the line of questioning put to the witness, noting that the issue at hand was the validity of the 2012 lease, and not the undertakings of the research institute prior to 2012.

Fielding another round of questions from the attorney general, who attempted to ascertain whether the then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, in 2006 had rejected CJRCI’s application, Ramotar maintained that the institute had gotten permission to occupy the Red House. “What I can say is that the institute was there with permission but I cannot say why Mr. Jagdeo did not sign the lease,” he said while adding that “I don’t know if that is disapproval but he did not sign.”

A second application to lease the Red House was made in 2010 but as in the case of the first application, it was not sanctioned by then President, Jagdeo. On January 11, 2011, a third application was filed. The attorney general repeatedly suggested to Ramotar that his predecessor had refused to sanction the applications.

“I don’t know that he disapproved….I will say that he did not sign. I don’t know that he disapproved,” Ramotar repeatedly said, in his response to the questions put to him.
In November, 2011 the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had once again won the General and Regional Elections, and Ramotar was elected President. The attorney general put to Ramotar that as President, following in the footsteps of Jagdeo, he did not sign the lease, though it was granted by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) on March 30, 2012.

Responding in the negative, Ramotar explained he approved the application by the CJRCI for the leasing of the Red House when it was brought to him along with several other applications by the then commissioner of lands.
“I did not go looking for the application,” the former President told the Court. He noted too that though he did not sign onto the application, he had given his approval. “I didn’t sign the approval,” Ramotar maintained while explaining that he had sanctioned the application by instructing the then Commissioner of Lands and Survey to approve it.

In summing up his arguments, the attorney general maintained that the Red House lease agreement was initiated without the approval of either the President of the Day or The National Trust of Guyana, which is in contravention of Section 10 of the Lands Department Act Chapter 59:01, rendering it void. Nandlall, however, in his rebuttal, argued that the legislation speaks to “sanction” but does mandate a written signature or a written approval.

The lease entered by the then Commissioner of Lands and Survey on behalf of the Government of Guyana, and by Ralph Ramkarran, S.C., on behalf of the CJRCI, was issued under Section 10 of the Lands Department Act, Chapter 59:01 for property with a duration of 99 years, commencing on January 1, 2012 at an annual rental of $12,000 for the first three years, and with the proviso that the government could revise the annual rent payable at the end of every three years.

The Red House is established in The National Trust of Guyana Monuments Register as a Public Building/National Monument/Heritage Site.
On Thursday, the attorney general was accompanied by a battery of lawyers including the Solicitor General, Kim Kyte-Thomas. The current Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, Trevor Benn was present along with his legal team.

The High Court will make its final ruling on December 17, 2018.