State Asset Recovery Act sets out guidelines for director’s appointment

GINA, GUYANA, Thursday, April 20, 2017

The appointment of a Director for the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) is dependent on the appointments put forward by the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments for the National Assembly to vote on.

That was the explanation provided by the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during today’s post- Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Minister was responding to questions from the media on what will become of Dr Clive Thomas who currently heads the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU). The passage of the State Assets Recovery Bill in the National Assembly on April 13 will see SARU being incorporated into SARA.

The State Assets Recovery Act makes provision for the establishment of the SARA, while Section Five of the Act instructs the appointment of the Director and Deputy Director of the Agency based on the provisions outlined in the Act’s schedule.

The legislation seeks to combat unlawful conduct and corrupt practices in relation to property and other assets owned by the State, or in which the State has an interest.

The legislation, divided into seven parts, deals with the establishment of the SARA, the establishment of the Recovery of State Assets Fund, civil recovery and preservation of state property obtained through unlawful conduct and orders to assist investigation and international co-operation and several other issues.

By: Tiffny Rhodius