By Josiah Williams
The announcement of political representatives for the Constitutional Reform Commission has sparked criticism from Attorney General Anil Nandlall over the lack of diversity among the nominees from the opposition.
As the government gears up for a significant constitutional reform process, the composition of the 20-member Constitutional Reform Commission is taking shape.
The commission will consist of an equal number of political representatives from both the government and opposition, alongside members from civil society organizations.
During his program ‘Issues in the News,’ Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, unveiled the nominees from both the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition.
Nandlall revealed the PPP nominees, which include himself, Gail Teixeira, Dr. Frank Anthony, Pauline Sukhai, and Kwame McCoy.
From the APNU+AFC coalition, the nominees are Vincent Alexander, Sherwood Lowe, Ganesh Mahipaul, Nigel Hughes, and Timothy Jonas.
Expressing concern over the lack of diversity among the opposition nominees, Nandlall emphasized the importance of ensuring that the commission’s members reflect the diversity of Guyanese society.
Highlighting the gender disparity among the nominees, Nandlall noted that the PPP nominees include two women and three men, while all nominees from the APNU+AFC coalition and the third party are men, without any female representation.
Nandlall also revealed that nominees from civil society are expected to be submitted soon, following which President Irfaan Ali will swear in the commission.
The criticism from the Attorney General underscores the need for broader representation in the Constitutional Reform Commission to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach to constitutional reform in Guyana.
This report sheds light on the concerns raised by the Attorney General regarding the lack of diversity among the political nominees for the Constitutional Reform Commission, highlighting the importance of equitable representation in shaping the future of the country’s constitution.