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Law books were ordered for AG’s library -2014 budget records

May 11, 2017 News

There are indications from 2014 budget records that several Commonwealth Law Books ordered and paid for by the state were for the library of the Attorney General’s Chambers.
Those law books are now being hotly contested and are the subject of a larceny charge filed recently against former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall.
Nandlall is contending that the law books are his; that under a special arrangement from former President Donald Ramotar, the state paid for them as part of his remuneration.
After his party lost the May 2015 general elections, Nandlall left his office with the reports.
However, the new David Granger government is claiming the books. Nandlall was arrested and placed before the court last week.
A whistleblower has come forward with documents insisting there is irrefutable proof that the Commonwealth Law Books belong to the state.
According to the Ministry of Legal Affairs 2014 Current Estimates proposal, which would have formed part of the last budget presented by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Nandlall was a member of the Agency Budget Committee (ABC) of the Ministry of Legal Affairs which signed off on the figures after reviewing it. Also signing it were Indira Anandjit, the then Permanent Secretary, and a number of other officials.
Under the section, “Attorney General’s Chambers Law Library”, the proposed budget of the ministry explained that the library has been functioning on a daily basis, and is being used by state counsel, judges, and magistrate who normally use the library for their daily duties in office as well as in court.
Being used regularly were law reports, law texts, Official Gazettes, acts, and Bills.
It was explained that efforts will be made to purchase updated volumes and other reading materials to enhance the library.
The proposed budget explained that the library was enhanced with new IT equipment through the Modernization of Justice Administration System. Also included were new shelves and workstation. The library was also in receipt of books donated by the Guyana High Commission in London.
However, with relevance to the Commonwealth Law Books in question, under the section “Justifications for Estimates of Appropriation Expenditure…”- Program 521-523 Main Office, Ministry Administration, and Attorney General’s Chambers, the 2014 budget proposals of the ministry was made even clearer that monies was to be set aside for a specific purpose.
This is what Line Item 6224 said:
“There is an ongoing effort to modernize the Attorney General’s library, in order to facilitate research and preparation or case with up-to-date listing of law materials. This includes legislations, law reports and text books. In recent years new laws have been passed in Parliament and as such this would have to be obtained.
The relevant text would have to be purchased to update the resources of the library. Also law reports, such as the West Indian Reports, the Criminal Law Report and the Commonwealth Law Reports are being updated every year; hence there is a need to purchase these books annually.”
It is the last explanation in the Line Item 6224 for the ministry which made it clear that the Commonwealth Law Books being ordered are for the library, the whistleblower said.
Former president Ramotar had written the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, acknowledging that he had given Nandlall permission to buy the books and keep them as part of his remuneration.
However, there are apparently no records to support this.

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