Our Mission
To ensure that proper legal services are provided to the Government; to provide statutory services to the public relating to the public trust and bankruptcy matters; and to register titles, mortgages, companies, societies and other bodies as well as other documents, as required by the law.
‘Authority’ will be set up to liaise with FIU
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…to combat money laundering
By Abena Rockcliffe
The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) will undergo some major changes. Those changes will take effect after
the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill.
That piece of legislation, which is set to be tabled on Thursday, sets out an entire different structure for the FIU especially since it provides for the establishment of an Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Authority (AML/CFTA).
In accordance with the Act, the Authority and the FIU will have to liaise to attain “maximum coordination” to achieve the objectives of the Act.
Legislation to address money laundering has been ever improving since its enactment in 2000. The Bill was amended in 2009 and is set again for yet another amendment.
The Bill to be tabled on Thursday is dubbed the strongest. It is to be presented by Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Basil Williams.
AG signals reforms for independence of GECOM, Supreme Court, Parliament
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June 20, 2015
Guyana Chronicle
ATTORNEY GENERAL and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams has disclosed a plan for major legislative reforms to secure the independence of constitutional agencies such as the Supreme Court of the Judicature, the Guyana Elections Commission [GECOM], Service Commissions, and Parliament. The reforms will be finalised in two bills, one of which the AG said will be tabled on or before the June 25 sitting of the National Assembly.
The Constitution Amendment Bill, Williams said, will secure the independence of the Supreme Court, GECOM, and Service Commissions. “That bill intends to restore the independence of certain constitutional bodies that were eroded by legislation that made them budget agencies,” Williams added.
Williams, Hunt talk criminal justice improvements
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June 20, 2015
Guyana Chronicle
SUBSEQUENT to a courtesy call by U.S. Charge d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams yesterday, Hunt told reporters the two countries will work closer on “improving criminal justice and bringing to account those who are guilty of crimes.” Addressing the importance of Guyana’s pending money- laundering legislation, the senior US embassy official expressed confidence that Parliament will approve the legislation by the September deadline, since it has been in limbo for years.
Ministers to get legal advice before decision-making
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13th June 2015
Caribbean News Desk
Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams says Ministers and Junior Ministers will now be benefitting from legal advice before they make decisions.
This is to ensure that actions taken by these appointees do not contravene the constitution or any other legislation or established principle.
“I think they (Ministers who make up Cabinet) are now briefed, from the last Cabinet meeting,” Williams told reporters just before the first sitting of the 11th Parliament on Wednesday. He pointed out that the new government I still young and that they are still in the process of setting up such protocol.
Enforcement of death penalty not being ‘seriously considered’ – AG
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Inews Guyana
11th June 2015
By Leroy Smith
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams says the enforcement of the death penalty is not something that is being seriously considered by the APNU+AFC government.
Some sections of society have been calling for the death penalty, which is enshrined in the constitution, to be enforced especially when there are cases of gruesome murders.
