Amendments to ROPA still with PPP executive – AG

Suggestions for amendments to the Representation of the People’s Act which would see major “electoral reform” when or if those are passed in the National Assembly, are still with the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.

This is according to Guyana’s Attorney General Anil Nandlall. The Attorney General who was responding to questions from the media about the amendments could not give a timeline when the amendments would be circulated for public consultation. 

“It is with the party leadership and I suppose after that process is completed, then the party will engage in public consultation, Nandlall said.

In February, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had promised that the amendments would be subjected to public consultations, “the idea is to make more transparent and to define responsibilities in the Act that are ambiguous,” Jagdeo told the media during a press briefing, “to put in place a set of penalties for people (who) try to steal election,” he declared. 

Guyanese are expected to get about three months to scrutinise and make suggestions about these amendments.

On Monday, the Attorney General said the amendments had been with the leadership of his party for some three weeks as he could not give a timeline when the bill would be made public, “I’m only one person. The membership of the party has vast experience in the electoral process and their input is integral to ensuring that we get it right.”

The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs declined to say what changes these amendments bring to the Representation of the People Act.