Attorney General Anil Nandlall has stated that the Government of Guyana is dedicated to implementing most of the recommendations provided by the Carter Center regarding the country’s electoral system. However, he noted that this process will occur in stages, especially where constitutional amendments are necessary. During his weekly Issues in the News programme on May 21, 2026, Nandlall described the Carter Center’s final report on Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections as a well-crafted document that highlights significant issues concerning the electoral framework.
Nandlall addressed claims that the Government has overlooked previous electoral reform recommendations, asserting that some reforms have already been enacted while others are more complex. He emphasized, “As we stated, we are committed to implementing most of these recommendations — but they have to be done in stages.” He pointed out the Carter Center’s favorable evaluation of the election-day procedures and tabulation process, which he argued confirms the effectiveness of reforms introduced after the disputed 2020 elections.
In terms of immediate developments, Nandlall announced that the Constitutional Reform Commission is set to meet to finalize plans for a public outreach program aimed at conducting consultations across Guyana. He stated, “Tomorrow afternoon there is a scheduled meeting to take place, and one of the things that we are concluding discussions on in that commission is the planning of an outreach programme through which we will begin public consultations across the length and breadth of Guyana.” This public consultation process is expected to be a crucial step in the Commission’s work, allowing citizens, civil society organizations, and political parties to engage with the reform agenda before any legislative or constitutional changes are proposed.
Nandlall also made a commitment regarding the timeline for these reforms, indicating that by the next election cycle, the Government aims to have completed most of the tasks set forth. However, he clarified that this commitment pertains to “most,” not all, of the tasks. The unresolved issues highlighted by the Carter Center include campaign finance regulation, the accuracy of the voters list, the politically divided composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and the need to enhance public trust in electoral institutions.
The Carter Center’s report identified several issues that require attention, including the regulation of campaign finance, concerns about the voters list’s accuracy, and the composition of GECOM, which has faced criticism for its potential bias. Additionally, rebuilding public confidence in electoral institutions, which was affected by the contested 2020 elections, remains a priority.
Nandlall characterized electoral reform as an ongoing process rather than a singular event, reiterating that the Government is not dismissing any of the Carter Center’s recommendations but is instead implementing them in accordance with legal and constitutional requirements. The Carter Center’s report has acknowledged improvements made since 2020 while also identifying areas that still need work.
Source: hgptv.com
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