US to assist with electoral and constitutional reform process

May 07, 2021 News

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C.

Kaieteur News – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., has started a discussion with Resident Programme Director of the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI), Dorota Ryzy and Local Programme Coordinator, Sara Bharrat, on electoral and constitutional reform.

The IRI expressed its commitment to work with the Government of Guyana in the two key areas, which the Attorney General (AG) spearheads for the Government of Guyana. Ms. Ryzy reiterated that this support is coming from the Government of the United States of America, represented by the US Embassy in Georgetown and IRI will be coordinating and implementing the programme.

According to a release issued by the AG Chambers, the assistance will come mainly in the form of expertise, which will be attached to the Constitutional Reform process at the level of the Parliament, at the level of the Attorney General Chambers to aid in the electoral reforms, as well as, at the Guyana Elections Commission.

The IRI had also promised to liaise with the Canadian High Commission, as well as, the Indian High Commission, both of which have already pledged assistance to Guyana in this endeavour and will coordinate with those offices to avoid duplication and to ensure the best use of the resources are available.

The Attorney General expressed deep gratitude for the assistance offered and stressed the importance of strengthening Guyana’s constitutional framework, electoral laws and indeed the entire electoral machinery, in order to protect democracy in Guyana from being undermined and penetrated by fraud, in particular of the type and magnitude which we witnessed post March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections.

“I feel compelled to emphasise that these matters are among the Government’s highest priority,” AG Nandlall said.

As they are vital to good governance, public order and national development, therefore, time is of the essence.

“These reforms are intricately tied to Guyana’s electoral cycle and as a result, the assistance offered must manifest itself swiftly,” the Attorney General stressed.
The Attorney General and the IRI representatives agreed to meet at periodic intervals.

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