Govt. pays $850,000 monthly in rent despite Law Reform Commissioners still to be named
: The building on Robb Street, Bourda, which is being rented for the Law Reform Commission
The Government has agreed to pay $850,000 per month to rent two floors of a three-storey building on Robb Street, Bourda, to house the Law Reform Commissioners who are yet to be appointed.
According to the agreement signed between the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Michael and Michelle Wharton, the rental is from December 1, 2017 to November 30, 2018.
When Kaieteur News visited the location yesterday, there was no signage to indicate that the Commission was located at the property.
A printing, copying and office supplies signage indicated that a business occupied the lower flat of the building.
As part of the agreement, the government has to pay its own electricity while the landlord pays the water. Additionally, the agreement stipulates a security deposit of $1.7M.
Government also agreed to pay the first two months of the tenancy before going into occupation of the building.
According to Williams, the Commission is in its final stages of readiness. He outlined that persons have been interviewed for the position of Commissioners while staff have been hired.
The Attorney General said that interviews were conducted for Commissioners last week.
The staff hired so far includes a Legal Officer, with a salary of $700,000; two Legal Clerks, $150,000 each; three typists at $130,000 each; two office assistants, $100,000 each; a cleaner, $75,000 and one driver, $120,000.
The Commission is mandated to essentially reform and upgrade all possible legislation in Guyana, in order to ensure they are in line with international best practices.
However, since the passage of the Bill two years ago, to facilitate the establishment of the Commission, the work of the Legal Affairs Department towards setting up the committee to carry out the necessary functions has been dawdling.
Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, blasted Government over the non-establishment. He noted that no one knew how the money, which was appropriated for the Commission was spent.
“In the National Assembly, we budgeted over two years ago for the establishment of a Law Reform Commission,” Nandlall said.