By| Jevone Vickerie | HGP Nightly News|
GUYANA RETAINS UK LAW FIRM TO DEVELOP PRACTICAL, ENFORCEABLE SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATIONS FOR CHILD PROTECTION
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — As global concerns mount regarding online threats to minors, the Government of Guyana has formally retained a United Kingdom-based law firm to spearhead a comprehensive review of global cyberspace regulations and design a practical framework tailored for local implementation.
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, made the disclosure during his address at the National Consultation on Social Media and its Effects on Children. Nandlall explained that the international firm is tasked with analyzing foreign regulatory models to determine which legal systems are not only robust but highly enforceable within Guyana’s jurisdiction.
The Attorney General emphasized that the administration is treading cautiously, carefully examining the successes and structural pitfalls experienced by nations that have already pioneered social media governance.
“The government doesn’t want to go alone—doesn’t want to travel this road alone for obvious reasons,” Nandlall stated. “The ramifications are far-reaching, are profound, are complex.”
Rather than simply duplicating foreign laws, Nandlall noted that Guyana’s objective is to construct a specialized framework that aligns with the country’s distinct social, legal, and cultural realities. He observed that establishing state sovereignty over digital spaces remains a fluid, experimental process worldwide.
“No government thus far has found anything close to an ideal methodology on how to regulate this cyberspace,” Nandlall remarked. “And all governments have chosen the path of public engagements.”
The Attorney General underscored that extensive civic stakeholder engagement must precede any legislative drafting. This inclusive approach is vital, he explained, given the deep impact social media regulations could have on constitutional guarantees—specifically freedom of expression, digital technological growth, and public safety.
Nandlall placed heavy emphasis on the practical enforceability of any future digital law, dismissing the value of cosmetic legislation.
“A law that is difficult to enforce is a zero-sum game. It’s better you don’t have the law if you can’t enforce it,” Nandlall asserted. “Makes no sense putting laws, sophisticated laws in the books and you can’t enforce them.”
The ongoing consultation process aims to strike a delicate, sustainable balance: fortifying child protection networks against online exploitation while ensuring the resulting state apparatus remains realistic, functional, and highly practical to execute.
