Six Bills Set for Introduction When National Assembly Reconvenes

The National Assembly is expected to receive six major pieces of legislation on Friday June 5, when it reconvenes for the first time since February 14, when lawmakers approved the 2026 National Budget.

Friday’s sitting will mark the first meeting of the National Assembly in nearly four months. The prolonged absence of parliamentary sittings drew criticism from opposition parties and civil society organisations, which accused the Irfaan Ali administration and Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir of allowing Parliament to remain dormant during a period of significant national developments.

Pressure for the Assembly to reconvene intensified following public calls from local stakeholders and interventions by members of the diplomatic community representing the United States, Britain, Canada and the European Union (ABCEU), who highlighted the importance of an active and functioning legislature in a democratic society.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, announced that six bills will be tabled and read for the first time. They are the Guyana Development Bank Bill, the Hire Purchase Amendment Bill, the Depreciating Property Sale Order Bill 2026, the Sexual Offences Amendment Bill, the Security Interest in Movable Property Amendment and Validation Bill, and the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill.

Nandlall said the measures represent a series of reforms aimed at addressing challenges affecting citizens, businesses and the legal system, ranging from expanding access to financing for small businesses and establishing Guyana’s first sex offenders registry to clarifying consumer protections and restoring benefits for former presidents.

Among the measures is the Guyana Development Bank Bill, which would establish a state-backed institution designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises and aspiring entrepreneurs who often face difficulties accessing financing through traditional commercial banks.

“This development bank is specifically designed to target the small and medium-sized businesses or intended businesses,” Nandlall said.

According to the Attorney General, the bank would offer loans of up to $3 million without collateral and at zero interest. Borrowers who successfully utilise those facilities could later qualify for financing of up to $10 million through arrangements with commercial banks.

“The loans will be up to $3 million maximum. It would be interest-free, and no collateral is required,” he said.

The proposed institution would also provide technical support and mentorship, including assistance with preparing loan applications and business plans.

Another measure, the Hire Purchase Amendment Bill, seeks to remove uncertainty surrounding the jurisdiction of courts in hire purchase disputes. Nandlall said varying judicial interpretations of the existing law have created confusion over whether such matters should be heard exclusively in the High Court or the Magistrates’ Courts.

“Some judges were interpreting the language to mean that the case can only be filed in the High Court. Some judges are interpreting it to say that the case can only be filed in the Magistrates’ Court,” he explained.

Lawmakers will also receive the Depreciating Property Sale Order Bill 2026, which would allow state agencies to seek court approval to sell property seized during criminal investigations if the assets are likely to lose value while proceedings are ongoing. The proceeds would be held in an interest-bearing account until the matter is resolved.

“When the case is determined whoever is entitled to that vehicle or boat or goods or cattle, they get the value along with the interest,” Nandlall said.

Describing the proposal as a significant reform, he added: “This is a brilliant piece of legislation that will help, that will bring great reprieve to a serious problem that has plagued the legal system for an extraordinarily long period of time.”

The Sexual Offences Amendment Bill is also slated for introduction and would modernise Guyana’s sexual offences laws while creating the country’s first sex offenders registry.

“It creates, importantly, for the first time in Guyana, a sex offenders’ registry,” Nandlall disclosed.

The remaining measures include the Security Interest in Movable Property Amendment and Validation Bill, which seeks to validate transactions recorded manually before an electronic registry became operational, and the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill.

According to Nandlall, the latter legislation would repeal amendments enacted under the previous APNU+AFC administration and restore the framework established under the 2010 law governing benefits for former presidents.

“We have decided to repeal the 2015 or 2016 APNU+AFC law and to bring back into force the 2010 Former Presidents Benefits and Other Facilities Bill. We believe that is the standard that all presidents should receive,” he said.

The six bills are expected to be read for the first time on Friday and debated at a subsequent sitting of the National Assembly.