New mechanisms needed to “excite” public interest in Constitution Reform process – AG

Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall says that the Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) may have to look at new ways to generate public interest in the process that aims to review Guyana’s constitution, given the low submission of recommendations so far.

Back in July, the Commission had issued an invitation for the public to make written submissions on areas to be reviewed in the Constitution of Guyana.

However, AG Nandlall disclosed on Thursday that just over a handful of submissions were received in more than two months.

Unfortunately, the latest report that I have, and that›s a report I received only last week, shows that only six submissions have been received. And of the six, I am informed… that the six submissions hardly relate to constitutional reform. They relate to matters unconnected to the constitution and reform process, Nandlall told reporters on the side-lines of an event.

According to the AG, who is also part of the 21-member body, there might be a need for the Commission to review its approach in order to attract more public participation.

“We may have to find another mechanism to excite public interest in the process or reconsider whether written submissions ought to be a condition precedent for going out to public consultation. But that’s a matter for the Commission, and at the next meeting of the Commission, no doubt, I will raise that, and we will discuss it,” the Minister stated.

Nandlall, during his Issues in the News programme, had previously appealed to persons, groups, communities, organisations, and institutions to participate in this crucial national process.

In the July 2026 notice, the Commission invited the public to propose changes they believe should be considered in the reform process. The CRC had set a deadline of December 31, 2026, for these submissions to be made.

According to the Commission, the review will examine a broad range of issues identified in the CRC Act 2022 while remaining open to additional proposals from the public. Among the areas identified for review are the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Guyanese; the rights of Indigenous peoples and children; the elimination of discrimination; improving race relations and promoting ethnic security and equal opportunity; and ensuring that minority views are adequately considered in decision-making and governance.

The Commission will also consider proposals relating to electoral reform, including the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the method of appointing its chairman and members, and its jurisdiction over national registration and the electoral process.

Other areas of focus include measures to strengthen economic, social, and cultural rights; preserve the independence of the judiciary; safeguard public funds and promote integrity in public life; improve the effectiveness of the National Assembly; and enhance the capacity and functioning of the local Government system.

In a separate notice, the CRC explained that it will adopt a two-tiered consultation process consisting of written submissions from the public and public engagements throughout Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions, as well as consultations with members of the Guyanese diaspora.

Following the consultation process, the Commission will compile the submissions and prepare recommendations for the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform, which will then transmit the report to the National Assembly.

The Commission said the legislation requires it to consult with the widest possible cross-section of Guyanese, including communities across all regions, religious and cultural organisations, political parties, youth groups, students, women’s organisations, the Private Sector, professional bodies, and the media.
But even as the CRC advances work on the reform process, AG Nandlall expressed disappointment with the pace of the exercise. “It is clear that the Constitution Reform Commission is not proceeding at the pace that we would like it to proceed. We are ready as a commission to go out and take submissions from persons,” he asserted on Thursday.

Persons interested in making recommendations to the CRC are advised to clearly label their submissions with “Written Proposal on Constitution Reform”. Submissions must include the contributor’s full name, address, email address, and other contact information, along with a scanned copy of a valid photo identification. Proposals may be delivered by hand or mailed to the Office of the Secretariat on the fifth floor of the Constitution Reform Commission building at 211 Camp and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown, or submitted via email.

The Commission noted that individuals whose submissions require further discussion may be invited to participate in face-to-face consultations.

The 21-member Constitution Reform Commission, chaired by former Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Carl Singh (Ret’d), was sworn in by President Dr Irfaan Ali in April 2024 after the highly anticipated Constitution Reform Commission Act was passed in the National Assembly in 2022, paving the way for the review of the country’s supreme laws.