They are:
The Criminal Law (Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2002 No. 09/2002
The Prevention of Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2002 - No. 10/2002
The Racial Hostility (Amendment) Bill 2002 - No. 11/2002
The Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2002 No.12/2002

Information Liaison Officer to the President, Mr. Robert Persaud made the announcement yesterday to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

The four pieces of anti-crime legislation were tabled in Parliament on September 19 last and passed on September 26.

The Amendment to the Racial Hostility Act substantially increases the penalties for offences committed under the Act. It also widens the definition of "record" to include any film, negative, tape or other device so that a person who commits an offence under the Act by publication in any film, negative or tape may be found guilty.

The amendment also provides for a person who suffers damage of the type contemplated by the Act to proceed to enforce his or her right in the civil jurisdiction in any court.

The amendment of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act is intended to serve as a deterrent to those who are inclined to commit acts of violence, including destruction of property.

The amendment of the Evidence Act adds disc, tape sound track or other device in which sound or data are embodied, any film, negative, tape or such other device as admissible evidence in a court. The general thrust of the new provision is to provide for the admissibility of documents produced by computers.

The amendment to the Prevention of Crimes Act allows for Guyanese convicted of certain offences in a foreign state and who are deported to Guyana to be effectively monitored by the Police.

The amendment now makes it possible for certain classes of deportees to Guyana and even persons who have elected to return to Guyana in lieu of deportation to be subjected to Police supervision.

These amendments are consistent with the policy of the Administration to ensure that adequate legislation is in place to further support the law enforcement agencies' efforts to maintain law and order and effectively fight crime.

No citizen's right or freedom enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana will, in any way, be infringed by the amended laws, according to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Doodnauth Singh, S.C.