Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 06, 2016 News
Amidst reports of uncertainty regarding the acceptance of Guyanese students into the Hugh Wooding Law School, (HWLS) in Trinidad, People’s Progressive Party, Civic, (PPP/C) Parliamentarian, Attorney –at- Law , Anil Nandlall is responding to what he termed a blunder by Attorney General, (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams.
During a recent press meeting, Williams was quoted as saying that given the current fee hike implemented at HWLS of Trinidad and Tobago, the Government is engaged in discussions about establishing a local law school, on a public/private partnership model.
Williams spoke about the arrangement which saw Guyana sending 25 students to the law school. A situation, which he says was inherited but is currently being addressed. Each year, 25 of the top performing Guyanese law students are granted automatic entry into HWLS but there has been reoccurring issues between the Guyana Government and the Trinidad-based law school.
Williams blamed the previous governments for the troubles but Nandlall, a former Attorney General under the PPP/C Government has said that Williams’ statement should be seen as nothing as a serious blunder on his part.
In a detailed statement on his social media page, the PPP/C Parliamentarian noted that under the former Government the Head of the Department of Law, University of Guyana, successfully negotiated, the terms of a new agreement with officials of the University of the West Indies and the Council of Legal Education of the West Indies, for the continued automatic admissions of graduates of the UG Law Programme into the HLWS.
The plan, Nandlall said was for the Government to sign a 10 -year agreement towards the automatic entry of local law students following the negotiations.
The opposition politician claimed the Government had successfully negotiated with the team but he exited office in 2015 before the agreement could be signed.
“In the end, not only did we succeed in retaining the quota of 25 for Guyanese nationals graduates but were able to secure an additional 10 places for non- Guyanese Nationals graduates of the said Law programme.”
Upon his departure from office, Nandlall claimed that he blamed his successor on the matter.
“I explained to him (Williams) that the hard work is finished and that all he needs to do is to ensure that the agreement which was being drafted by UG And UWI be signed and taken to the CLE for their signature because it is a tripartite agreement.”
But based on the Attorney General’s recent statements, Nandlall has concluded otherwise.
“A year after I am now reading in the press that Williams has disclosed that this agreement has not yet been signed. What is worse, rather than remain silent … he blames, the previous Government and the Council of Legal Education for this predicament,” Nandlall added.
To further compound the situation, the AG noted that Williams added building a local law school to the equation.
“Even if that’s a feasible option, it will take years to materialize. What will happen to students in the meantime? That’s the issue; why after one year, the negotiated agreement has not been signed?” Nandlall questioned.
Even as questions continue to surround the entry of Guyanese students into the law school, AG Williams could not be reached for a comment, yesterday.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 24, 2024
Round 2 GFF Women’s League Division One Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Police Force FC on Saturday last demolished Pakuri Jaguars FC with a 17 – 0 goal blitz at the Guyana Football...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]