–Attorney General says

ATTORNEY General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, on Tuesday, announced that the Constitutional Reform Commission is expected to be appointed shortly, following the passage of Budget 2024.

This announcement came on Tuesday, during the consideration of Estimates and Expenditure by the Parliamentary committee of supply on Tuesday, where Nandlall revealed that a facility has been rented to accommodate the commission.

Opposition MP Roysdale Forde prompted the disclosure while querying the allocation for building rentals under the legal affairs ministry. Nandlall informed the committee that the President, with assistance from the Attorney General, is responsible for establishing the commission.

In that regard, Nandlall added that a building located on Middle Street was rented some time ago and was previously used to house the commission of Inquiry into the 2020 General and Regional elections and the Commission of inquiry into the Mahdia Dormitory fire.

Nandlall also mentioned that the opposition leader has been invited by the President, through a letter from the Attorney General, to submit nominees for the commission by February 10, 2024.

“I can safely say that just after these budget proceedings are concluded, His Excellency shall move to appoint the Constitutional Reform Commission, and this is the building in which that commission will be housed. It is already furnished and ready for occupation by the secretariat and the commission,” Nandlall said.

Previous reports have stated that the Head of State will appoint the 20-member commission which is expected to comprise of five members nominated by the government and five members by the opposition, representatives from the Guyana Bar Association, the labour movement, the National Toshaos Council, the Private sector, women, youth and religious organisations and farmers.

It will implement reform relating to elections and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), considering its composition, method of electing its chairman and members, and its jurisdiction over the national registration and electoral processes.

Once enacted, it will provide for the commission to receive, consider and evaluate submissions for the changes to the Constitution. Those recommendations will then be submitted to a standing committee for consideration by the National Assembly.

In November 2022 the National Assembly passed the Constitutional Reform Act which provides for the establishment of the commission.