Local Content, Sovereign Wealth Fund Bills to be tabled in National Assembly on Monday

The PPP Government will on Monday table several important Bills in the National Assembly, including the Local Content Bill, the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, and the Human Organ Transplant Bill.

Describing it as an exciting parliamentary agenda, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, reminded the public of the Government’s lawmaking plans during his weekly Facebook Live programme ‘Issues in the News’. He said that Monday’s sitting of the National Assembly would commence at 10:00h sharp, so that the National Assembly would have the entire day to do the people’s business.
Apart from the foregoing Bills, the Government would also be tabling Bills for amendments to the Power of Attorney Act, the Deeds Registry Authority Act, and the Condominium (Regulation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. Nandlall has said that Bills relating to law and order would also be tabled, if not on Monday, by the end of the year.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) has reported that Government’s Local Content Bill calls for the near takeover of oil operations by locals.
In order to improve the fiscal management of the country’s natural resources, the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill will restructure the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Act which was passed by the previous APNU/AFC Government.
The amendments to the Power of Attorney Act were made to guard against the increasing incidents of property fraud. In a judgement delivered in February, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) called on Guyana to urgently reform the Deeds Registry Authority Act.
It was reported that the amendments to the Condominium (Regulation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act will, among other things, allow persons who have purchased duplexes or condominiums from the State to receive the titles to their properties.
Meanwhile, the Human Organ Transplant Bill is expected to improve the standard of healthcare in Guyana. Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony had explained that the legislation would allow for the advancement of transplantation in Guyana, which can better serve the Caribbean region. He said that it is long overdue.
The Government has also already said that it has a packed legislative agenda for 2022, which would see Bills being tabled for amendments to the Sexual Offences Act, the Domestic Violence Act, and the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Only last week, Nandlall said these Acts would each undergo a complete overhaul. The Restorative Justice Bill is also expected to be laid in the National Assembly in the new year. (G1)