In Guyana, attorney general assures swift appointment of constitutional reform commission after missed deadlines in 2023

Though $150 million was budgeted in 2023 for constitutional reform plans and a building was rented and furnished for the Commission, the government was unable to set up the long-promised Constitutional Reform Commission. However, the Parliamentary Committee of Supply [on 30 January] again approved more funds for this purpose in 2024 but opposition Parliamentarians pressed Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, for a timeline towards establishing the Commission after several deadlines in 2023 were missed. The AG said other matters of national importance took the government’s attention away from fulfilling this promise but he assured that he will move swiftly to help President Irfaan Ali appoint the very important body this year. [...] It was at the beginning of January that the government dispatched letters for nominees to the Constitutional Reform Commission to be submitted. The opposition APNU+AFC said immediately after that they had begun the process of selecting their nominees. In August 2022, the Constitution Reform Commission Bill, which seeks the establishment of a Constitution Reform Commission to review the country’s supreme laws, was passed. Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President and will include five members of the PPP/C, four members of the APNU+AFC, one member each from the ANUG, the Guyana Bar Association, the Labour Movement, the National Toshao’s Council, the private sector, representatives of women organisations, youth organisations, Christian, Hindu and Muslim organisations, as well as nominee representing farmers. Details of the Bill state that the commission will review the constitution to provide for the current and future rights, duties, liabilities, and obligations of the Guyanese people.
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