— AG tells EU Election Observer Mission

ATTORNEY-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., on Wednesday expressed the government’s commitment in relation to electoral reform, to a delegation from the European Union (EU) Election Observer Mission.

The EU Election Observer Mission, which observed the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, paid a visit to the Attorney-General at his Carmichael Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown office, to deliver a copy of its report on observations made regarding the elections.

The delegation comprised of Michael Lidauer, Political Analyst; Urmas Paet, Chief Observer; Alexander Matus, Deputy Chief Observer, accompanied Evelina Melbarzde, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Political, Press and Information Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Suriname, and several other jurisdictions.

The delegation indicated its interest in Guyana’s legislative agenda regarding campaign financing, and holistic elections law, to which the Attorney-General noted that the Government of Guyana is committed to administrative and legislative electoral reforms, to prevent the issues which occurred at the last elections.

“It is a concern that the [elections] laws are scattered, and that is being addressed by revising and consolidating those laws. The Law Reform Commission has been constituted. It is independent. One of its first responsibilities will be the revision and consolidation of the laws of Guyana in several volumes,” Nandlall informed the delegation.

“We are aware of where the weaknesses are and where they were exploited. So, it is not a difficult task to correct those weaknesses so we will not have a reoccurrence. Your recommendations will be scrutanised and incorporated as far as possible,” he added.

The delegation also enquired as to the status of the election petitions, and members were informed that Election Petition 99 of 2020 was dismissed for procedural impropriety, but has been appealed, while Election Petition 88 of 2020 is still engaging the High Court.

The Attorney-General extended appreciation to the delegation for the role they played during the elections process, and assured them that the report will be perused, and where appropriate, its recommendations implemented.