Attorney General Anil Nandlall will table six important pieces of legislation in Parliament on Friday aimed at protecting consumers and property owners, addressing sexual offences, restoring former presidents’ benefits and operationalising the upcoming Development Bank.
Speaking on his “Issues in the News” programme on Tuesday, Nandlall said the Development Bank Bill will outline the institution’s governance, finances and operations, while the Former Presidents’ Benefits and Other Facilities Bill will remove restrictions preventing future presidents from receiving the same benefits granted prior to 2016.
“We have decided to repeal the 2016 APNU/AFC law and bring back into force the 2010 Former Presidents’ Benefits and Other Facilities Bill because we believe that is the standard that all presidents should receive,” Nandlall said, noting that future presidents should be afforded the same package received by former presidents from Arthur Chung to David Granger.
The Attorney General explained that the Sexual Offences Amendment Bill incorporates recommended adjustments and international best practices, including, for the first time, the establishment of a sex offenders registry.
Additionally, the Security Interest in Movable Property Amendment Valuation Bill and the Hire Purchase Amendment Bill will seek to protect consumers by providing credit-related information and safeguards when using hire purchase arrangements or making purchases.
The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s Depreciating Property Sales Order Bill will also be tabled to address valuable property seized during criminal proceedings.
Nandlall said the legislation would allow the State to apply to the court for permission to sell confiscated items and deposit the proceeds into an interest-bearing account.
“When the case is determined, whoever is entitled to that vehicle, or boat, or goods or chattel, they get the value along with the interest,” the Attorney General said.
The Bills will be read in Parliament for the first time on Friday and debated at a later sitting.
