The President is expected to appoint the Constitutional Reform Commission in September, according to Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

During his weekly television programme ‘Issues In The News,’ the Attorney General explained that the process of nominating persons to sit on the 20-Member Commission will commence shortly with the hope that before the end of September, the Commission will be in place.

“A process has to be undergone, and that process will require the various sectors to submit their respective nominees for appointment. So that process would have to begin, and once those nominations are received then the President shall appoint, and the President has indicated that those appointments will be made before the end of September,” the Attorney General explained.

Ten of the members will be selected from the political parties in the National Assembly, which include the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C); the main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC); and the Joinder Parties – currently being represented by The New Movement (TNM).

The other 10 members will be drawn from the Guyana Bar Association, the Labour Movement, the National Toshaos’ Council, the Private Sector, along with women, youth, and religious organisations, and farmers.

“It is not going to be a politically dominated commission. It is going to be half politician and half civil society, and the work of the commission will be driven by public consultations,” the Attorney General explained.

When appointed, the Commission will receive, consider and evaluate submissions for the changes to the Constitution. The recommendations will then be submitted to a standing committee for consideration by the National Assembly.

The sum of $150 million was included in this year’s National Budget to facilitate the work of the Commission when it comes on stream.

Last November, in the absence of the APNU+AFC, the National Assembly passed the Constitutional Reform Commission Bill, setting the stage for the country’s supreme laws – the Constitution – to be reformed through the appointment of a Commission.

Amendments to the Constitution will likely relate to Elections and the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), including the method of appointing its Chairman and members, and its jurisdiction over the national registration and electoral processes.

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