CRC better equipped to strengthen Govt accountability, citizen engagement

From April 14th to 17th, 2025, the Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) of Guyana participated in an intensive Constitution Education Programme, aimed at deepening members’ understanding of constitutional provisions that enhance state-citizen relations and support governance in the public interest.
This programme, which focused on equipping commissioners with practical and theoretical insights into constitutional frameworks, was facilitated by two internationally respected constitutional experts: Dr Elliott Bulmer and Professor Christine Murray.
Guyana Times understands that the experts were made available to the Commission through the support of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), a Netherlands-based organisation that promotes sustainable democracy worldwide.
Dr Elliott Bulmer is a constitutional specialist with deep expertise in democracy, good governance, and institutional reform. He currently serves as an independent consultant with International IDEA. Specifically, his work focuses on constitutional development in Commonwealth democracies, with particular attention to the Caribbean, South Asia, and the South Pacific.
Professor Christine Murray, a South African constitutional law expert, is Professor Emeritus of Human Rights and Constitutional Law at the University of Cape Town. Her extensive international experience includes serving on the Mediation Support Standby Team of the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UN DPPA) from 2014 to 2024. Professor Murray was also part of the Panel of Experts advising South Africa’s Constitutional Assembly (1994–1996), the Committee of Experts for Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, and the Commission of Fiji (2012). She has provided constitutional guidance in diverse contexts such as Yemen, Egypt, Lesotho, Libya, Nepal, South Sudan, Somalia, Tunisia, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe.
Hand-in-hand, the two constitutional experts provided commissioners with global best practices and comparative insights that can be adapted to Guyana’s unique context. As the Commission continues its mandate, the insights gained through this programme will also strengthen efforts to make the Constitution a living document that reflects the aspirations of the Guyanese people and supports long-term democratic development.
Moreover, as a result of this knowledge sharing exercise, Constitution Reform Commission of Guyana is expected to boost their work aimed at promoting a more accountable, transparent, and inclusive governance framework for all Guyanese.
On April 3, 2024, President Dr Irfaan Ali swore in a 21-member Commission tasked with reviewing the Constitution of Guyana and holding widespread stakeholder consultations on areas to be reformed. The 2022 Constitutional Reform Commission Act has outlined several areas for potential reform, including Indigenous peoples’ rights, fundamental rights, children’s rights, eradication of discrimination, enhancement of race relations, and electoral reform, among others.
The Justice Carl Singh-led Commission held its first meeting on July 9, 2024 during which Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira was selected as the Vice Chairperson.
In addition to Teixeira, the other People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) representatives on the Commission are: Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, along with Ministers Dr Frank Anthony, Pauline Sukhai, and Kwame McCoy.
The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) parliamentary Opposition is represented by Vincent Alexander, Sherwood Lowe, Ganesh Mahipal, and Nigel Hughes. The other political appointee is Timothy Jonas, who is the representative of the joinder parties that hold an Opposition seat in the National Assembly.
Labour Movement Representative Aslim Singh, National Toshaos Council (NTC) Representative Derrick John, Private Sector Representative Ramesh Persaud, Women’s Representative Kim Kyte-Thomas, Youth Representative Dr Josh Kanhai, Muslim Representative Imran Ally, Hindu Representative Radha Krishna Sharma, and Farmers’ Representative Adrian Anamayah are the other members sworn-in by the President.
The other CRC members are the Guyana Bar Association Representative, Kamal Ramkarran; and Christian Representative Keoma Griffith.
During the April 3 swearing-in ceremony, President Ali told the Commission members that while these areas are wide-ranging, they are not exhaustive in their scope of work. He further noted that the Constitution must be drafted in clear and accessible language that is comprehensible to the average individual. This, according to the Head of State, would ensure that all citizens understand their rights and obligations, thereby facilitating active participation in the democratic process, and reinforcing the mutual understanding between the Government and the governed.