AG, Bar Association discuss development of judicial system

Aug 05, 2017 News

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams recently met with the President of the Guyana Bar Association Kamal Ramkarran, Secretary Ms Pauline Chase and other members in their first meeting.
Among the things discussed at the meeting were continuing legal education for attorneys in Guyana; the need for a supervisory authority of Attorneys at Law under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime; the implementation of a system of transcription in the law courts and the need for a unified Bar.
The parties agreed that the meeting was very productive. Top of the agenda for both sides was the urgent need for all courts to be outfitted with voice verbatim transcription systems.
The Attorney General noted that in a modern society these systems are important for use in every court. It allows the speedy conclusion of cases and provides for transparency in the court room by allowing lawyers to have verbatim reports during trials.
In a discussion of the structure of the Bar, it was noted that the Bar would be an ideal body to assist with facilitating professional development for Attorneys, as well as function as a mechanism that can regulate disciplinary and accounting regimes. However it was noted that before any system is implemented, there must be consultations held with the entire Bar, so as to ensure that adequate representation is made for all attorneys- at-law.
This consultation will also consider the utility of the model legislation drafted by the Regional Project Director of the IMPACT Justice project, Professor Velma Newton. The model legislation is a gender-sensitive model Legal Profession Act which contains a revised Code of Ethics, disciplinary and accounting procedures, and provisions for continuing legal professional development.
There was also discussion on the need for a supervisory body under the AML/CFT regime as a requirement for the Fourth Round Mutual evaluation. The parties have agreed to a sensitization meeting for attorneys at law under the AML/CFT regime.
The Attorney General and the Bar Council expressed a desire to continue to have regular engagements.

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