Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694875029470.pdf (Guyana)
t • • L .. { ,· • • .- BILL No.

19 of �10 -, .. , .. •.

. '

.._; -·..... � ,.

.. • -.

r,, • �.

• Wednesday_t:Jh October.

20f0 ' , •' PARl,.IAMENT OFFICE.

Public Georgetown,· --Guyana.

... Buildings, .. ' .

.

2010.

13"' Oc!ober, > •r • ., • .. ' .

. '

.. •. '

general The following .

Bill which will be · Introduced in the National information.

.

, • • ,, '· _-,_ Assembly Is l)Ublished for .,.

· .

-,�, �� �� g "i.

� (.

.

; .... the National S. E. Isaacs, Assembly .


• , CJerlcoi ....:ia .

r ·'.. ' .

. '

> t ' ,.

• .. _,.

.

.. ; .. � .

:···· ,,_• . '

• ' . '

. '

� ',.

r -.. _ .. ;. '

' :, " ' '"' .. ' ,· • ' • ' I"" · 'l"-•.

.,.

'.

'!i .... , ' ., ' .. ' BILL No .. 19 of 2010 ·CONTEMPT OF COl:IRT BILL 2010 > .. ·A"RANGEMENT OF SECTIONS.

� _,., • � ' SECTION ,. '

• ��· .. .. ' ., -' • 1.

Sborttitle.

• PARTI· PRELIMINARY • ' 2.

Interpretation.

., ·r •• ' ...... � .

.,, • �--- • ,: � •, • -�- � .. ,,.,.


..· , ' ' ' • .. ; ' .f ' -'; .. .

..,�,.

� • ::rt..t:.,,; '.

• �-.,...

- 1 , ' .

-, .. ' •r ...' .

.... .,. "'

,.

.

. '

L < ,, , ·- ,, J; "· .,..

, 2 PART II OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENT deliberations.

3.Jury's 4.Use of tape recorders,.. 5.Contempt 6.

Punishment 7.Payment 8.

Revocation and enfo�ement of fines.

of order for contempt.

for contempt of Court.

of Court.

.

PART Ill CERTAIN PUBLICATIONS NOT CONTEMPT.

p_ublication or distribution not contempt.


9. lpnocent 10.Fair and accurate 11.Falr.c�iticlsm report_otproceedlngs not contem�t.

of judicial act not contempt.

,, I• PART IV PROCEDURE FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT 12.Contempt in the face of the Court.

13.No appeal from order for contempt In face of the Court.

14.Contempt of Court in other cases.

15.Appeal from order.

for contempt 16.Limitation of action for �ntem-�.

in other cases.

PARTY MISCELLANEOUS I 17.Savings: 18.Non-derogatior:i 19.Repeal.
from any other law.

· .

11 ,,.

i .

.

j : ... � .. •·· , ', .

, • 3 - ABILL .. -• ' r .

', \ �-.

·• ., ,,.-.. • .. .

� .\'.l,.. ·,. '

, lntltu� �-.

. '

. '

., ' .

ll; ; .. ' • '½i rll } .AN ACT Jo ,d��• a� regu_la� the law �ith resJ?&Ct to contempt anct � matters.

of co.urt .

. '

of Guyana:- � Enacted by the P'ar11ame11t � . '

.

,,:.

- .. "\ l' - I',_ .- .

.

.

, AQ,2!

!10 •• ' •. '

Short title.

�- ' >- ./ i,ill[ ...... • lnlllrpretatlon.

/ t <.

; �t,./ ( ,... .


.. ·PART1 ·PR.ELIMINARY , • ti ' .

• \ .. f ... ' � .� ,· .

; • This Act.may t,e' cited as th��C�ntem pt of Court Act ' .

_\ , :, , .

.. ' ., I 1 ,,..- ' .

.

�'' 1., , .... , ' •· :, ,.

.

,., 2010.

-.• f. .

,( .,_ . '

,..

In this �ct- �·-.

• " •··, � .. 1;;.

-... 2. . "

, ' ; -�- .

·, .

.

L• ,-_,:.. .

.

•• ( r ; l .

, ,, r !__,.

, ... 1;1----. '

":...l,1; ... ·-� ,4 ,,.., -t r i, .-.. -.


- , ·, ✓ whether "contempt:of Court" means any conduct, oommitted i� the face of tha Court, or riot, �at · - ' .

or' interferes su.bstantially obstruqts .

! '

.

.

obstruct .

tends tb substantially or interfere Of • , or-p�judioes, or, ·.

.\ � _,.

of justice.

tt,e administratiqri _prejudice; .

.

.

iii any ,.

-- proceedings pending before the Court, and includes - J' L • --.,., • .... ' . '
; (a) !19_,W!lful __ dil5o_bedien (£ to, �r-disreg_atd •I,.. - • ., ,1 for, ' any judg,nent, �.

·direction �r order of a. p � I • ,· , .

- ' • • ,., ·Court;, ·- � -- ;,,!

... :, l ; t' •.

·, ,, ,..•·.

, •· .� .· • ·,.•• • r ' ' .


4 , (b) the wilful give� in a breach of an undertaking , .. Court; (c)any insult or disi:espect offered to the Court; (d) the interruption of proceedings pending before the Court; � (e)the use of abusive or threatening language; (fj the use of violence or threatening .the use of violence; .

(g) any_act calculated to scandalise or lower the authority .
of th� Court; o_r (h) any other act or conduct that disrupts the due ·course of any proceedings before the Court; · ·"Court" means the High Court including the Full Court ' .

.

�� of the High Court, the C9urt of Appeal and the Caribbe�n Court of Justice; "publication" · includes· any speech, writl�g, plctare, sign -or other visible or representation, broadcast other communication in whatever form, which is addressed to ·the public at large or _any $ection of the public.

-,,-·-:-· •.

----; .

_,. '

;� .


s· -- PAR1'11 • • :' ,I .

- i ' ••... • �• ,-.,• t rJ.,,. "'

:t; .c, ;; .

.. - J, .... ,.

,.

� • .. -� .....

'.

'•' .,!Ir .

,,., ... ,.

., Of.FENCES,ANO PUN1SHMENT .

�/ .. yl ; ... ,, .. .

� Jury'• -C· ... deliberations.

_-•.

, • ft � ff p .

.

.

3.. ' !f shaUJ>e_ � con�pt of Cou�,to obtain.or attempt to .

�nts made, opinion _s exp�, obtain or dlSclose'_any -� .. .

-,� .
-,� .

- ... - , '-' •r -.- arguments _advanced or -votes cast by members of a· jury in the .

·.,,,, delib6ration$ � -coul]58 of thE!lr in.

�ny oominal proceedln�.

: .. · ,--: ,..._ - .

t -·.

_,;.

.,..J L .

lo' c� • ' •, • ,;,\.

� • ' •.

• • ·• •· •.- :_ •·,,:';.

�-.

., ; UseofJape -recorders.

,_ .... ,:.., .

� 4.

(1) Subject .. .

.

to:subeection (4); it �halt be-a contempt of .

, • • �.r :c ,,.,\· " .

,.

l ' ,: ,!, <.� • COurt � use In Court any� 18COrder or other"instn,unei:rt for � .
- - -� .

· ... - -recording sound, - _e�tytilh the leave of the Court.

• • - -.... � � - "'."

• - � .

.

-.... • .,.&, .

�\ .

,· ·.

';:�· ..,, ., .

·,: ,.. : -1-y ,�,� L .-" .

-· _ · (2)· Any leave .gi'anted (1) may be under subsection ' i.. ... .

- ,.

- • • -- - -• - --• JI.

-· . ''

- .

.,.

-� -_ -granted __ �bject to sucfJ .

conditlon!S as the Court cleemii fit with ,$ r .. � .. :le:' .

respect to·the· 1,!88 � any recording made pursuant to the leave,.
i-"· :-' ..... i •;,; .. :'" ,; .. -arld the ��rt_ may at anytime ' -pal1 of'the or in ,ei.Uon to any particular -� .

.

:� - '.

, .

proceedi_ngs.

.

> •' ., revoke such leave,_�ither generally ' , . '

, .. - .,..

•'-. '

r � ... -.

.., ..

.t'.'

,._ ;:;..:: -.

(3)-Without prejudice,to .

act of contempt under this Act, ttie Court maiy on:ler'the � ._ F any·other power to d�I With an ·;, .

._ .. .

.

- ' ·, .

;...

:f .. , k• • '· - '.

•.

� ; -� , : .


it1�1T!ent 9r any recording mar;te with it,' •.

1-;.

, ._ _ - • L ,,',;J .

·-• .

- �; .

- - (?f bOth, be fo��.

... .. .

.

.

,.

J ... ,; .

� J:Jisposed of or · • · · ·· · •.

· , Jnd.

�my instrument or r�rcling llOJor:feited sflall .,,_ � .

.

.

- -'�.

· - ,)' · ' ','.;.

-·dealt wltti in sueh-n:,at,(ler.aa the .. Court may dlteot•subjectto ... t -,· <�-°';,' ., ' �- ·-,_ ' ·.

. '

'· .

the .. �·.

---� w. ·� \ �--.

, , · •: � .

-··.

- - .


.1 .

-· . '

.

,-- -, .

"., • • .. ) -, \.

, ',· .. •.

-· .....· ,-.. . '

;.

;It•.

- ­ .... V � -.

�- I· ,'.- ... owner's right to be he�rd ·as to re�sons why such· instrument oi \ "' reco�ding shall not be forfeited.

{�) .

This section does not apply to the_ u�e of sound .. ' >- recordings for purposes of official transcripts of proceedings.

·Contempt of Court.

5., Any person who commits a contempt of Court s_hall b� guilty of an offence.

.

,.

.
.

,.

.

Punishment 6.

(1) Any per$on for contempt of Court.

contef!tpl of Court ·is liable on indictment, In the ca�e of - ·· .

natural .or pers.cm artificial ' found to be in .. an individual,.

to a fine not exceeding �o hundred and itfty thousand dollars .

or • ·" .,.

.

./' t • •· � .. months; imprisonment for a term not exceeding three a company or other association, to a fine not \ l • exceeding seven hundred and fifty thousand .. dollars .
.. ; (2)Whete-.the contemnor is a company, and th� contempt connivan� .

is proved •.

or.

is .attribl,!t�ble to have been co�mitted with the oo_nsen_t or to u � ._..,.,.

.... -� -�-•� or act on .- . "

/ 6 .. ·.

the part of, any director, manager .

7 ·or any other pefsOn in charge of ., '. '

. '

.,.

'.

- · • -.

: · · · ' .. .

• ..... a:,1, • ' ' ' ;.

or"i·e�por,sible for the conduct of the business _of.the .

.

� - person shall also be deemed to be guilty of C9ntempt of ' .

.

.

.

- .

.
.

.

.

- .

.

• .

.

, is ilable to the punishmenfprescribed , .

• • J ~· - i-, .

• \ company, that ,.

-· Court and {1 )(a): -, -_ • • ... ' 1,1nder subsection • • .

.

-Provided not be that such a person shall <Jeemed to be guilty of contempi of Coui:t if he "I;,.'

-pr�vetf that the contempt was committed without' his knowledge or that he exercised ail ' .

. '

• ' , ,t ,4 ,.

• due diligence to prevent its commission. "

.

· ···• .

.
.

· ···• .

.

; ·.• 1_ '(3) � -the Court imposes a fine fot the punishment of contempfof Co�,t, the Court shall orcte�that the fine.be paid � .

.

... - definite time, but not less than seven d�ys.

aftef-the date of within a the order, sa� and exceptWhere the Court, in its own deHberate )udgment allows for a. reprim,and.

� . '

.

.

-� . '

' .

.- i'� .

.... "" :"!

� '· ; .

, .

'..;• ' ; , .. ,, ·.

Ii !

7.

(1) All fines payable under any order for contempt ·' Co!.
!ri shall be p�id lnto'the,COnsolidated Fund.

of ,.... ,.

,.,.

... , .. . '

l. -·--.

, ;- r '" y' ·.

.

-. '

... l �.

.

�-- • �: '· '- .,:.

::._ ·-'-1( < •' .

�- ·' .

� .. ..,, . '

•· .

.

-�- .. -•• • • • .

J� . '

r ... ' • .. 't.

,.

--.. , .... i • .Payment and .� enforcement of fines.

,. '

.

'., , ·.i� •\\�:,, �..: �·.

� :,_ · (2) The paymen t of a fine impo� as punishment for a " - • ,, ' '· ' J- • , ·contempt.

of Coud shall be·enforced upon the order of the Court in._ .
, >, ' ',.

.. .• ' ' like manner as if the Clrder were a j1,1dgment for the r .• or order ' < • " ,.

•'!< ' • ·' � ., -.

, ¼.. , , ., ; .

.

�.

,' ,.

� '·· I' .

'.

r .j Cap.

3-:02 payment of money under the High Court Act.

8 . '

' Revocation of order for 8._ -The_C�urt may, of its own motion qr on an application ' · contempt.

on-behalf of the contemnor · revok!3 or vary ao order for contempt of Court.

CERTAIN PUBLICATIONS NOT CONTEMPT !

-.

?·.


(1) A person shall not be guilty th�t would otherwise . '

publication the time of such publication of contempt of Court for be a contempt of Court, if at he did n(?t .know, or did not have any .

.

,, r�asonable grounds for susp�cting t�at t�e relevant proceedings Jnnocent publication· or distribution not con�mpt _ are pending before the Court.'
r. .. � (2)A person shall not be ·guilty of or punishable for contempt of Court_ for the distribution of a publication which would ·, otherwise be ·a .contempt of Court, if at the time of the .distribution -he did not know, or did not have.

any _reas9nable grounds for .

·suspecting, that the p'ublication , contained .

.

or was likely to contain any matter which amounts to contempt of Court.

10.

(1) Subject to this se9tion, a person shall not be guilty.

of· ,.
of· ,.

.___... contempt of Court for the publication of a fair and accurate report o� any proceedings pendJrig the Court or any stage ther�of.

before Fair and accurate report of proceed not' contempt.

ings .

.

�--''"'" �· ?£ C , !''

"ii�_ ,..

jlo.

'> l ,,�?.,. '

·.- "' .�,C9.Ult•�,Y'hent1t �rs_tQ be n�,y.to·: , avoid.

obsir:liction or p,rejudiee to the .adl:nblistration -of justic& i(I any·.

, , ., (� 1:.

• _r ��.� ... ,-·'".iii, '"�...-:-· ._.

.j: • �i"� :•:., ��.,·:�.?


,.._ _.,.. ··-�·'' ·,,_ ' -PROG�DlJRE-.FOR CO,.T�MPT 'Qf,�qUJtJ - .. "'::.. ' ,.'.

,.:-�.

.

: - , - .

, �pt rnlaceof -theeourt.

,.. "' ,.., ,, "".-,,.

.•) -� .

·, I • :;;:; .-·; � _I' -' ,·.

-t;.;.

.. -...

""''="".

'"-· .... , .

_.,, �· ---,: .,.

Soi.- '•_,,' .,.

:J:, --, ..

·,;., _:,·,·' J::!

; 10,· (b)afford him a_n opportunity to put forward a defence· to the .
charge; and (c)after heari�g him in-his defence and the evidence of �ny upon a proceed · to pronounce witness -he may.

tender, .

either -final determination ¢ the charge, .

such date and at such tim� as the Court may appoint that beflalf.

· • or on �✓ forthwith .

in , • ... .

- .

.

.

(2).

_Upon a final determination .

of a charge for contempt .


· of Court under: i;ubsectiQn J • (1) �c)1 the Court_ may make suet-order ... · - for the imposition of p�nishment under .section 6 or the discharge of �!

•.

such_person as it.thinks fit.

/ • • • y,,.

I ·' t ,.

charge for (3).


�re the Court does not determine a contempt of Court forthwith, the Court may order that the person be detained in such custody as the court may specify but the detention -shall not exceed seven days before a fin�I determination c;,f the matter: , r ' Provided .

may be released .

that the Court may o�er .,that the �rson � on bail or on such conditions as the Court thinks fit.
13 .. No appeal shall lie from any order of gul� for contempt of Court, or punishment imp9Sed the�r, made by the �ourt under section 12. .

. '

' ..

,., - .

14.

(1).

Where it is alleged that a_ny person ha$ eo�mitted a - .

contempt, .

!

, other than contempt.

in the face of the Court, pr�ings .

.

, -·.. ,.

No appeal from order for contempt.

in face of the Court Contempt of Court in other cases.

.. •.

� . '

. "

.

, .

.

.

,, , , .

-• Cllp.3:02 Cllp.3:01 No;l6of .2004 t ' .

.


+'"'�, \ "- ·, ,� .. - ""I • J -_, against that_� � �• b� _by, _wa� of 1n application to the· , , · ' .. y �,t- .

i..- : .. '"(,.,.

...... •' "' •.

:e: -� )II •,-.

!

- ' -; • .

•• � .• ·• �,.

• ,,r ..

., � .. .

.

• ... ,: � .

,, (2): An appllcatlon under subsection (1) 11haJI beffl&de in like manner as if it were an application the Court of Appeal as the case may be."

Ad:or the Caribbean the High Court Ad., .under Court <Jf Justice Ad.

2004, ' . '
2004, ' . '

-:,:... -.. .

(3}: Eveiy appllcafion · made under this section shall ·be • ,· -... � .

.,'I .

.

-... J • - • Sl.lf)POrted by ·an affidavit, which shall specify the nature of the .

contempt of which' .the person is a� to.have committed and all; • material facls, including .

alleged contempt and-�II docuinems relied on, the.

date or dates of the commission of the ,.

.. - ,, .

.,.

. '

.


., • •• -�-.. ... tf_; .. ..:.. ... ... r 15.An appeal .ttall rie from any order for CQOtempt d Court, .

- .... ... .

, .

f .. ' .-· ,,t_-.

,.· ...... '\J- .. • .

� } " .

I " , I or punishment imposed, • case of- made by the Court under sectioo 14, in the ' "· ,. "

' It " ► � � ,, •• "f i .. _ , ' -� , ·-· Appealfrom orderfor COi ,1einpt In 0lller c:asee.

\ '.

"I,. '"'

II ' t .. ' �-' I .

.'

' '' .

• � 11; .... • . '

' :, .

.. , l • ' -· ,>- .

� -:., ' ,,,,.

.


r .- ... --)•· • • • ""l: .i ... -' �- •.

.

.

.... ,- .... ·- , .. ).� JI, ;,· ' .

.\, • f; --� ...... .. (a) a single .

.

High C�rt; judge of the High Court,· to the Full Court of the \ .

...._ •.

u (b)the Full Court of the High Court, to the Court of Appeal; .

and ., ; .

.

.

,_ .

., .

.

• , ' ·(c) .

the•Court of Appea� to the Caribbean �au� of Justice, ... Cep , 3:02 in Hke mariner as if.

the order were :a judgment l:l�h Court Ad.


or the Court of Appeal .

� ,.

.

.

-� . '

,.

Ad., as the casa-may be .

or order under _the , '."

1'.

cap, 3:01 I ;,..· - •.

., £ " • • I - ' . "'

• .. .

. '

.

.

.

r , 11 \ ,·.

{ , ' , .

,- ,.

.. � -.

. '

�-.l .

12 Limitation of action for contempt ·16.

All proceedings for.

contempt of qourt under this Act shaH.

� bro.ught · within· �me y�ar from the • date.

on which the.

contempt.i�-alleged_ to have.been committed.


MISCELLANEOUS �vings. "

17·.

· Nothing commol'.l law_ to'•a ch�rge of contempJ in this Act shall prejudice of Court.

( .

.

- any defence available 1 • • at .

.. 18■-The'.provisions of this Act shall be in addition of any other law· in force, _in _relation - .

to, and not to �ntempt of in derogation Court.

Non­ derogation from any other laW.

,.. Repea_l.

.

, ,-------,-------- ,-,----- --3 1 "t .. � l t , • I• .

.

.'

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM " .

,.


This Bill seeks to define .the powers of certain Courts to punish for contempt and -· to regulate their procedure in relation ' .

.. �reto.

... � � .

, .

.

-· .• .., Part-1 provides a definition of "contempt of Court".

This definition is inclusive, .

� - and gives examples of conduct that would constitute contempt of Court.

Part II creates offences relating the to contempt· of Court and prescril>4'8 punishment .. therefor.
Clauses 3 and._ 4 create offences --for obtaining al'l(i • I •... - disclosing a jury's delibe�s and using tape recorders in Court, i:espectn,ely.

- •.

Clause 5 of the Bill rnakes any·person who commit$ a contempt of Court; guilty"of , • ' an offence.

I Clause e sets out the punlshment �t can be imposed on a finding ttiat a person - • is in contempt of court.

A distinction is made between where-the person.

is an individual or a company.

·.

• •.


The circumstances in which a publication will not· be considered contempt of· • Court are provicled for in Part Ill of -the Bil!, These circumstances where include there is (a) an innocent-publication, (b) a fair and accurate report of pending proceedings before the Court and (c) fair criticism of a judicial .act.

.

. '

, Part IV provides for the procedure to be adopted in cases of contempt of Court.
14 Clause 12 which deals with contempt committed in the face of the Court, states that .the alleged contemnor fl'.lUSt be informed of the contempt with whieh he is being charged and be a;1fforded an opportunity to �e hea� Jn his defence.

No appeal lies from an order made by the Court for where the contempt is committed in the face of the Court.
However, by Clause 15 in every other case where the contempt is not in· the face of the Court, an appeal shall lie in -like manner as if ' such an order were a judgment or order under the High Court Act, the Court of Appeal Act or the Garibbean Court of Justice Act,as the case m�y be.

Part V provides that nothing in the Bill prejudices any defe".lce available at common law to a charge of contempt . '

and also provides, in Clause 18, that the provisions of the Bill are not in derogation contempt.
to of any other· 1aw in force relating - -i .

.

.

cttl1J --;\ '----- -··· _ ; .

--- Minister of Legal Affairs.

•I.

.

\ _j