Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, listed the bills during his weekly programme “Issues in the News,” describing them as part of the government’s agenda to modernise Guyana’s legal framework and fulfil commitments to citizens.
Among the most anticipated measures is the Guyana Development Bank Bill, which would establish a specialised financial institution to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and aspiring entrepreneurs.
According to Minister Nandlall, the bank will target ordinary Guyanese who often struggle to secure loans from traditional lenders due to collateral requirements, high interest rates and other conditions.
The proposed institution will offer loans of up to $3 million, interest-free and without collateral. It will also provide technical support, including help with business plans, loan applications and project proposals.
The AG said the initiative fulfils a key PPP/C 2025 manifesto promise and is intended to support small businesses in agriculture, manufacturing, services, transportation and retail.
The Hire Purchase (Amendment) Bill is expected to clarify the legal framework governing hire purchase agreements.
It follows the 2022 Hire Purchase Act, which introduced stronger protections for consumers buying goods on credit. Before those reforms, owners could repossess goods after default and keep all payments already made.
The 2022 law requires notice before repossession and, in some cases, court approval before goods can be reclaimed.
The legal affairs minister said the amendment will remove uncertainty over whether disputes should be heard in the High Court or Magistrates’ Courts by confirming that litigants may access either forum.
Meanwhile, the Depreciating Property Sale Order Bill addresses a longstanding challenge for law enforcement and the courts.
It would allow authorities to seek court approval to sell vehicles, boats, machinery and other assets seized during criminal investigations or proceedings before they lose significant value.
The minister said the measure would prevent valuable assets from deteriorating while cases remain before the courts, protecting both the state and citizens from financial losses.
The National Assembly will also receive the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to update Guyana’s sexual offences laws more than a decade after the principal act was enacted.
The amendments incorporate legal developments from other jurisdictions and address shortcomings identified through judicial interpretation and practical application.
A key provision is the creation of Guyana’s first Sex Offenders Registry to strengthen monitoring and accountability of convicted offenders.
In addition, the Security Interests in Movable Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill will improve commercial transactions and legal certainty. The proposed legislation will validate transactions manually recorded before the electronic registry becomes fully operational.
The registry enables individuals, businesses and lenders to verify whether movable assets such as vehicles are subject to financing agreements, hire purchase arrangements or bills of sale.
The Former Presidents’ Benefits and Other Facilities Bill seeks to repeal amendments introduced by the previous A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change Administration and restore provisions contained in the 2010 legislation governing benefits for former heads of state.
The AG argued that all former presidents should receive equal treatment and the same benefits package upon leaving office, regardless of political affiliation.
He said the bill aims to restore consistency to the framework governing benefits and facilities available to former presidents.
The measures will receive their first reading in the National Assembly on Friday, June 5, before proceeding through the parliamentary process for debate and consideration. (Department of Public Information)
