Govt still on course for constitutional reform – Trotman

Despite the delay, Government is insisting that it remains committed to constitutional reform. This is according to Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman.
Trotman, who was at the time addressing attendees at the recent University of Guyana’s ninth round of Tain and Turkeyen Talks, affirmed that it was a campaign promise the Government intended to keep.
“The Government of Guyana has made efforts to keep this matter on the front burner; we did make a manifesto promise for constitutional reform. We have worked on the Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill, which is a large measure taken from the 1998 bill which was crafted during the Seventh Parliament,” Minister Trotman explained.

“I believe that it is all of our responsibility – Government, Opposition, civil society, academia, youth, women – all of us, we all have that equal responsibility. And (the Bill) is now with the review committee of Parliament,” he continued.
The move to have the Bill debated at a Parliamentary Select Committee level is seen as a major step to assist with constitutional reform, something that the coalition Government promised during its election campaign, to deliver.
According to the draft bill, the Consultative Commission will be made up of 15 members. The establishment of this Commission will allow for some 100 countrywide public consultations.
The Bill allows for President David Granger to appoint two constitutional law experts. Eleven of the other members will be nominated by the parliamentary parties; trade union movement; organisations representing Guyanese youths; the Guyana Bar Association; the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers; Christian, Muslim, and Hindu organisations; and the National Toshaos’ Council.

Cummingsburg Accord
The agreement made in the Cummingsburg Accord regarding constitutional reform was bolder, affirming that: the President should be elected by a majority of electors; there should be separate elections for the presidency and National Assembly; executive powers should be shared between the President, Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
The political Opposition, led by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, as well as British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn have been critical of the slow pace of enacting constitutional reform.