UNDP, AG discuss collaborative areas for important reforms

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall on Monday discussed several areas of collaboration for reforms, during a courtesy call from Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Gerardo Noto.
Nandlall expressed appreciation to the UNDP for the cooperation they have extended to Guyana, noting that the UNDP has been one of the country’s “foremost developmental partners” in the areas of law and order, democracy, public health, and social services, among other important national endeavours.
Both sides also discussed a number of platforms upon which the UNDP and the Attorney General Chambers and Legal Affairs Ministry will collaborate in the near future, including important reforms in the legal sector.
During their discussions and upon request, the Attorney General briefed the Resident Representative on electoral reform and constitutional reform.
He highlighted a slew of legislative amendments enacted thus far pertaining to electoral reform, noting however that the process is an ongoing exercise. He reminded that constitutional reform is a manifesto promise of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the Constitutional Reform Commission will soon be constituted.
This body, he said, is governed by the Constitutional Reform Commission Act 2022, and will be a broad-based independent organisation that will consist not only of politicians but civil society, and the work of the Commission will be driven by public consultations.
A committee comprising of the Legal Affairs Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry, a representative from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and a representative of the Judiciary will collaborate with the UNDP on these crucial reforms. Noto thanked the Attorney General for the meeting, and pledged the UNDP’s continued support in various areas of national importance.
This engagement comes just about two months after a UNDP delegation discussed with the AG, potential programming opportunities aimed at extending support to the criminal justice system, specifically strengthening institutional capacity to effectively reduce the backlog of criminal cases.
Since assuming office in 2020, the PPP Government has passed new laws and amended existing ones in an effort to keep pace with the growth of the country’s jurisprudence.
Nandlall has continuously assured that such works will continue, because Guyana is a sovereign country and must tailor its legal system to meet the idiosyncrasies and peculiarities of society.
Recognising that Government has been churning out legislation since it entered office, he had shared that such modern laws would create the necessary balance in the delivery of justice.
Constitutional reform was promised in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic manifesto in 2020, where it was further outlined that consultation with the populace and important stakeholders; and a broad-based Constitutional Reform Commission would drive the process.
The way was paved for the establishment of the Constitutional Reform Commission and the commencement of the reform process following the passage of the Constitutional Reform Commission Bill in the National Assembly last November. Back in August of 2022, the Government presented the Constitutional Reform Commission Bill 2022 in the National Assembly. That Bill seeks the establishment of a 20-member Constitutional Reform Commission to review the country’s supreme laws.
According to the provisions of the Bill, the commission will review the Constitution to provide for the current and future rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the Guyanese people. It is mandated for that purpose to receive, consider, and evaluate submissions for the alteration of the Constitution, and report its recommendations to the Standing Committee for transmission to the National Assembly.  (G12)