CONSULTATIONS ON DRAFT ELECTORAL LAWS COMMENCE

Yesterday, May 9th 2022, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, MP, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs held the first installment of public consultations on the draft electoral laws at the Boardroom of the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs, 95 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. This engagement dealt specifically with the draft amendments to the Representation of the People’s Act which were publicly circulated by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, inviting a review, written recommendations and views on the proposed law.Many stakeholder organizations, as well as individuals made recommendations and expressed their opinions in writing on the same. They were all invited to yesterday’s engagement. Representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Electoral Reform Group attended. These were among the organizations who had made submissions and recommendations pursuant to the invitation extended. At the meeting those submissions were thoroughly interrogated and discussed.The Attorney General used the opportunity to explain the nature and purport of the legislative proposals and also made it clear that it is outside the scope of this exercise to address issues which will require amendments to the Constitution. He advised that those recommendations be deferred and be presented when the constitutional reform process begins. The stakeholder organizations expressed their broad support for the proposed reforms.