President Ali urges faster constitutional reform, calls for immediate public consultations

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali said he wants the constitutional reform process to move forward quickly, urging the Constitution Reform Commission to expedite its work.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he said the commission needs to go directly into communities. While institutions and stakeholders have until the end of December to submit feedback, he noted that public consultations can begin.

“I want the Constitution reform process to move forward very, very quickly,” the president said, adding, “I want to see it expedited.”

He said the process should be comprehensive, producing recommendations on every aspect of national life that requires updating given where Guyana and the world stand today.

Parliament passed the Constitution Reform Commission Act in November 2022, and the 21-member commission was sworn in by President Ali in 2024. It is chaired by Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh.

A public notice dated June 23, 2026, invited written proposals, with a deadline of December 31, 2026. The commission will then compile its recommendations for the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform. The Act identifies areas for review, but these do not limit the scope of the exercise.

The Act requires public consultations before the Constitution is amended, and the commission has said it will hold a series of consultations over the following months.

 In September, Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, a member of the commission, said it is prepared to begin wider consultations. He added that it is considering whether written submissions should remain a prerequisite.

Other bodies are also feeding into the process; the Ethnic Relations Commission held a national consultation on October 13 and will submit its recommendations to the commission before the December 31 deadline.