CAN INDIVIDUALS STAND FOR ELECTIONS AS INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES IN GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES?

This question that forms the headline of this article is before the Chief Justice in the case of Christopher Ram v The Attorney General and the decision is due to be given on June 26. Ram is asking the Court for an order that an individual can stand for elections to the National Assembly as […]

INDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL UNITY

As Guyana celebrates its 59th Anniversary as an Independent Nation, it faces many challenges, just as it did in earlier years. Converting a dependence syndrome into a sense of independence, creating the institutional structures of an independent nation, embarking on economic transformation, confronting the challenges of a deeply divided nation, negotiating a way between the […]

THE QUESTION OF ELECTORAL REFORM

The question of electoral reform in its broadest sense has attracted attention. A case has been filed seeking an order that an individual can contest elections without having to be on a list of candidates. The law was passed pursuant to the constitutional reform process in 2000/2001 but regulations to effectuate it, though promised, were never made. Currently, to be a candidate,a person must be named on […]

MANDATORY BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

The Chair of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh, has decided that biometric identification as the sole, mandatory, means of identification in unconstitutional. Under normal circumstances, it would be expected that this decision would bring an end to the Opposition clamour for biometric identification and that its advocates would reorient their campaign for legal reform. Not so!

IS THERE AN OPPOSITION COALITION IN THE WORKS?

The Peoples National Congress (PNC), Alliance for Change (AFC) and Working Peoples Alliance (WPA) recently announced that they will be meeting to discuss the establishment of a coalition for the purpose of contesting the upcoming regional and general elections to be held by November this year. Only recently, these parties were part of the coalition, APNU+AFC, (the WPA […]