The Regional Law Revision Centre in Anguilla is continuing to attract trainees from across the Caribbean and to enjoy much acclamation for its work. Its latest successful training in the Consolidation of Laws was conducted during the period November 17 and 18 when five participants were in attendance.
They were Mr. Parvin Prakish Sookhai and Mr. Aneil Joseph from the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in Trinidad and Tobago; Ms. Ronetta Sargent and Ms. Joann Alexis Bond from the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Legal Affairs in Guyana; and Mr. Glenfield G. Dennison from the Attorney General’s Chambers in Belize.
The Course Facilitator, Ms. Yolande Dash, Manager and Legislative Publisher at the Centre, said since 2009 it had successfully conducted the Consolidation of Laws programme. She thanked the Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean – a Canadian Government-sponsored – project for sponsoring the participants.
Ms Dash went on: “During the two days, we discussed issues concerning the consolidation process such as some of the complications of incorporating amendments into the Principal Act; how to address new and repeal legislation and go through problems that can derail this process. Although the consolidation exercise may seem such a simple task, it can quickly become a nightmare if not undertaken correctly. This programme focuses on the consolidation process and the implementation of techniques that contribute to the production of a cost-effective, high quality publication of the revised edition of laws. The Consolidation of Laws programme is the only one available in the region that provides such an in-depth knowledge of the process as very little information has been written on this subject.
“As to the benefits of our programme, it is not uncommon for countries to repeatedly send candidates to the Centre. As such, this is the third visit to this Centre from these countries. We are hoping to welcome more participants from other countries, regionally and internationally, to our next programme scheduled for March 2017.”
Attorney General, Mr. John McKendrick, QC, who is also the Resident Director at the Centre since his arrival in September this year, said: “The consolidation of Anguilla’s laws is absolutely essential. I could not efficiently carry out my job without finding the consolidated laws. If that didn’t exist, then the process, the cost and the time to efficiently and effectively advise Government would take so much longer – the longer it takes, the more inefficient and expensive Government is and all of that adds up and has a cost. What Ms. Dash and her team do here is invaluable to Belize, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana and the Attorneys General Chambers of those respective countries.”
Mrs. Evalie Bradley, Ministerial Assistant in the Ministry of Home Affairs, told the course participants that their training in the consolidation of laws would be of much assistance to them. “This little place is a centre of excellence not only in Anguilla but within the region,” she stated. “I know that Ms. Dash is the heart beat and soul of what goes on here, and that through her transfer of information, knowledge, and expertise you will be able to add value to your organisations.”
Ms. Ronetta Sargent, one of the trainees, expressed gratitude on her own behalf and that of her colleagues for the training they received. “We will forever be grateful that you have not kept your passion for laws revision to yourself, but shared it with us,” she told Ms. Dash, “and that for the seventh year you have extended invitations to persons in the region involved in the consolidation of laws process. We wish to thank you for the opportunity, hospitality and most of all the lessons we learnt. I pray that my colleagues, like myself, will implore their respective Governments to pay more attention to the consolidation and revision of laws and the benefits it offers.”
The Regional Law Revision Centre Inc. was incorporated in 2007 in Anguilla as a non-profit organisation. It is a result of a collaboration of efforts by Anguilla, Montserrat, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
The Centre was established to maintain regular publication of accurate and accessible laws for the Overseas Territories of Montserrat, Anguilla, Turks & Caicos Islands, the British Virgin Islands and other Caribbean States.
