Six pieces of legislation covering healthcare, criminal justice, heritage preservation, gambling regulation and benefits for former presidents are expected to feature prominently when the National Assembly meets today, Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
The sixth sitting of the Thirteenth Parliament is scheduled to commence at 2 p.m. at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
According to the Order Paper, two previously introduced bills are listed for second reading, while Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, has announced that four additional bills will be introduced for their first reading.
The proposed legislation forms part of the Government’s wider programme to update Guyana’s laws in response to changing economic, technological and social conditions.
During his weekly programme, Issues in the News, on Tuesday evening, Nandlall outlined the four new bills, which address the regulation of digital healthcare, emergency medical services, the preservation of national heritage and alternatives to imprisonment for minor offences.
Among them is the Criminal Justice Alternative Sentencing Bill, which Nandlall is expected to introduce.
The proposed legislation would give magistrates and other authorised judicial officers additional options when sentencing persons convicted of certain less serious offences.
These alternatives would include community service and other non-custodial measures, reducing the need to impose prison sentences in appropriate cases.
Nandlall said the proposal recognises that imprisonment should be considered a last resort for some categories of minor offences, particularly as Guyana grapples with a growing prison population.
He explained that the nature of the alternative punishment could depend on several factors, including the offender’s skills.
The bill would also repeal the existing Extramural Work Act and replace it with a broader legislative framework for non-custodial sentencing.
Two of the proposed bills will be presented by Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony.
The first, the Telehealth and Digital Health Services Bill, seeks to introduce a legal framework governing medical consultations and other healthcare services delivered through digital technologies.
The legislation is intended to regulate remote medical consultations, allowing healthcare professionals to provide services to patients in different locations through technology.
Nandlall noted that doctors based in Georgetown are already able to provide medical services to patients in other parts of Guyana, including remote communities.
However, he said dedicated legislation is necessary to establish appropriate standards and oversight for these services.
The second proposal, the Emergency Medical Services Bill, would establish a regulatory authority responsible for licensing and setting standards for emergency medical care.
Under the proposed framework, ambulance operators would have to satisfy prescribed requirements concerning vehicles, medical equipment and the qualifications of personnel.
Those requirements would apply to ambulances operated by public healthcare institutions, private hospitals and the Guyana Fire Service.
Nandlall stressed that appropriate medical attention before a patient reaches a hospital can be critical to survival.
He argued that investments in modern hospitals must be complemented by effective emergency response systems capable of stabilising and transporting seriously ill or injured patients.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. is expected to introduce the National Heritage Preservation Bill.
The legislation seeks to repeal the National Trust Act and establish a National Heritage Preservation Council.
The proposed council would oversee the identification, protection, preservation and management of sites, buildings, objects and other items considered significant to Guyana’s national heritage.
The legislation would also address underwater heritage sites and historically important objects.
Importantly, Nandlall said the proposed law contains provisions intended to protect the rights of private property owners whose buildings or lands may be identified as nationally significant.
He explained that the State would be required to follow an established legal process if it sought to acquire such properties, including safeguards relating to ownership rights and compensation.
The Attorney General said the legislation would replace a framework that has been in place for almost five decades.
Meanwhile, two other bills are formally listed on today’s Order Paper for second reading.
The first is the Gaming Authority Bill 2026, which was introduced in July. The proposed legislation seeks to establish the Gaming Authority of Guyana to regulate and supervise gambling-related activities.
Its provisions cover casinos, gaming lounges, betting shops, online gaming platforms and betting associated with horse and hound racing.
The bill also proposes standards for gaming equipment, enforcement measures, administrative penalties and the establishment of a Responsible Gaming Fund.
Additionally, the proposed legislation includes provisions aimed at preventing money laundering and terrorism financing within the gaming industry.
Nandlall is expected to move the bill’s second reading. The other bill scheduled for debate is the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2026.
The legislation, which received its first reading in June, seeks to establish provisions governing benefits and facilities available to persons who have previously served as President of Guyana.
The proposed arrangements include State-supported services and other entitlements for former heads of state.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, is expected to move the second reading.
Unlike the four bills scheduled for introduction, these two bills have already completed their first reading and are listed for further parliamentary consideration.
