Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has dismissed claims that Guyana’s government exhibits autocratic tendencies, emphasizing that the nation’s constitution and governance structure remain firmly democratic.
The issue was addressed during the AG’s weekly program, Issues in the News, following an opinion piece published on August 27 by Bertrand Ramcharran, former Chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
In the article, Ramcharran suggested that there are “shades of autocracy” in Guyana’s current governance.
Nandlall, however, clarified that autocracy, which equates to dictatorship, is contrary to Guyana’s democratic framework.
He explained that the country’s constitution has consistently upheld democratic principles, barring a period between 1980 and 1992.
The Attorney General highlighted that Guyana’s constitution provides clear guidelines on how the government is elected and how national affairs are managed, ensuring the proper execution of duties.
He also pointed to the active role of Parliament, noting that since 2020, more legislation has been passed in Guyana than in any other English-speaking Caribbean country.
Nandlall also underscored the independence of the judiciary as further evidence that autocratic governance does not exist in Guyana.