…partners with IMPACT Justice on Model Arbitration Bill
The Government of Guyana, through the Attorney General’s Chambers, is partnering with IMPACT Justice to build its national capacity in the area of arbitration as it aims to become a modern arbitration hub. Currently, the focus is on a new Model Arbitration Bill.
The Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean Project (IMPACT Justice) is a multi-country regional justice sector reform project funded by the Government of Canada and is implemented from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados. For several years, IMPACT Justice has provided invaluable support to the Government of Guyana in the area of access to justice.
On Thursday, the Project Director of IMPACT Justice, Professor Velma Newton met with the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, MP and team at the Chambers to discuss several areas of collaboration between IMPACT Justice and the Government.
In a statement on Friday, the Attorney General’s Chamber said IMPACT Justice will provide support in the area of training with emphasis on the new Model Arbitration Bill.
“This Model Bill was produced by IMPACT Justice for the Caribbean region. It is one of the most modern expression of arbitration law in this part of the work. Guyana is among the first territories pursuing its implementation,” the AG Chamber explained.
Recently, young Attorneys-at-Law in Guyana benefited from a recently concluded virtual skills training workshop on the “Drafting of Arbitration Clauses: Practical Considerations” which was sponsored by IMPACT Justice and the Chartered Institute of Arbitration, Caribbean Branch.
The workshop, which focused on the relevance of including arbitration clauses in contracts, was held from April 5-7, 2022.
The Attorney General’s Chambers, in collaboration with IMPACT Justice, will be hosting a virtual workshop on the Model Arbitration Bill entitled “Roadmap to Implementation of a New Arbitration Law” in May.
“The objective of this workshop is to enable participants to understand the purpose of arbitration and to familiarise them with the intended legal framework,” the Chamber explained.
Participants of the workshop will receive training from internationally renowned arbitrators namely Barry Leon and Professor Anthony Daimsis, both of whom are Canadian arbitrators; Calvin Hamilton, a Guyanese arbitrator based in Europe, and Myles Weekes, the President of Chartered Institute of Arbitration, Caribbean Branch. Participants will include members of the legal profession, the Judiciary, State Counsel, the private sector, and civil society.
To facilitate a consultative approach to the preparation of the domestic law, the Model Arbitration Bill was circulated to relevant stakeholders in Guyana including the Bar Association of Guyana, the Berbice Bar Association, the Private Sector Commission and the American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana.
Additionally, later in the year, the Chartered Institute of Arbitration, Caribbean Branch will host two training courses on arbitration. One will be held in September and the other in December. These courses will pave the way for interested Guyanese to become certified arbitrators.
Chief Parliamentary Counsel-Charles Fung-a-Fatt, SC, Solicitor General-Nigel Hawke, Deputy Solicitor General-Deborah Kumar, Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel-Joann Bond, Law Revision Officer-Diane Woolford and Principal Assistant Law Revision Officer-Renee King-Sandiford were among the officials present at the meeting with the IMPACT Justice representatives
