Guyana hosts Hague Convention Confab on Private Int’l Law

Jul 15, 2016 News

A section of the gathering of the Hague Convention Conference (HCCH) at the Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday evening.

The Hague Convention Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) was declared officially open Wednesday evening, with two Guyanese Judges appointed to sit on the HCCH network of international judges.
The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) is said to be a preeminent organisation in the area of private international law.
The HCCH was formed in 1893 to “work for the progressive unification of the rules of private international law”. It has pursued this goal by creating and assisting in the implementation of multilateral conventions promoting the harmonization of conflict of laws principles in diverse subject matters within private international law.
The inaugural opening ceremony hosted at the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston Georgetown was attended by HCCH dignitaries the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and President David Granger, members of the Government of Guyana as well as members of the local and regional judiciary.
The three-day event organised by the Ministry of Legal Affairs is expected to yield benefits towards improving international family law, legal cooperation and commerce, human rights and cross border trade in the Caribbean.
During his opening remarks, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, (AG) Basil Williams, expressed gratitude to the convention for considering Guyana to be the host country for the auspicious event.
The Attorney General announced that Guyana has taken steps to actively engage the course of the conference through the appointment of two Judges; Chief Justice (Ag), Yonette Cummings- Edwards, and Justice Roxanne George to be Guyana’s representatives on the HCCH panel of international judges.
According to Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, Christopher Bernasconi, Guyana’s participation in the

Justice Roxanne George

Chief Justice (Ag) Yonette Cummings

Hague Convention Conference will provide legal framework, protocols and guidelines, towards conflict resolutions on matters of trade, family and children’s right between the nation and its international counterparts.
Before declaring the conference officially opened, President Granger detailed Guyana’s commitment to strengthening the domestic and international human rights architecture.
“This conference is a demonstration of our commitment to examine ways in which we can strengthen our domestic and international human rights architecture, especially on the issues of international family law, legal cooperation and commerce,” Granger added
The President noted however that Guyana’s legal architecture – relating to the protection of children and to issues of family law – is far from finished.
“We expect that the deliberations of this conference will assist us in improving our systems – both legal and administrative – for the protection of our children.”
Granger said that conference for guidance on the steps which may be taken to help improve legal certainty and predictability in international trade.
“Trade is important to every country. Our country can be the gateway both to markets on the continent and in the Caribbean and the wider world. Legal certainty and predictability in international commerce will provide assurances to exporters and importers trading in regional and international markets,” the President outlined
He added that the Hague Conference Conventions can help provide legal certainty and predictability in international contracts.
“We are interested in learning how the relevant conventions can improve the business environment and competiveness of our products”
The President further explained that the Hague Convention of October 5. 1961 Abolishing the Requirements of Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents introduced a simplified authentication system for public documents.
Granger believes that the Convention can assist companies by facilitating the recognition of the parent companies’ documents during the registration process in a new country. It is also helpful for individuals who need a neater and speedier system for the authentication of public documents covered by the Convention.

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