Attorney General appeals for Opposition support for local Law School

Dec 09, 2018 News

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, has said Government is still pursuing the establishment of a law school, locally.
He said that Government will continue pressing the Council of Legal Education (CLE), the Bar Association, the Judiciary, the Department of Law at the University of Guyana and the Opposition for their support of the establishment of the law school.
“The effect of their support would remove the discriminatory quota of 25 Guyanese law students annually to the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), thereby removing the hardships suffered by Guyanese students,” Williams said during the budget debate on Friday.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams

Guyana is still hoping that the CLE will grant permission for the establishment of the Joseph Haynes Law School (JHLS).
Despite Government’s pronouncements of having the school in place, earlier this year, the school was subjected to another shifting of the CLE’s position to deny its establishment.
Williams had previously accused former Attorney General and Opposition Member of Parliament, Anil Nandlall, of attempts to block the process of establishing the law school when he was contacted by CLE Chairman and Trinidadian Attorney Reginald Armour, SC.
Nandlall who previously served on the CLE dismissed the claims.
Armour had disclosed that the paperwork submitted for the law school came up short. According to Armour, Guyana provided the CLE with a feasibility study for the proposed law school, on July 4, 2018.
The CLE’s sub-committee has since looked at the study and prepared a report.
The CLE is concerned about three things. The Chairman disclosed that the feasibility was not treaty-compliant – it does not fit within the treaty under which the CLE operates.
Armour said that the feasibility study does not satisfy the quality assurance that is required. And there is also need to see a curriculum.
The official said that the discussions will be held with Government on a timetable on the proposed law school.
Williams had said that the details that are required are “not a big deal”. In fact, the curriculum that will be used is that of the Hugh Wooding Law School.
Williams said that the Government will be responding and engaging with the CLE on the issues.
Government has earmarked a spot in the University of Guyana campus for the building of the school.
Currently, students have to travel abroad, to Trinidad and other territories, to complete their studies.
President David Granger has called on the CLE to find new ways to improve the delivery of affordable legal education across the region.

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