Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698071603829.pdf (Guyana)
7S' • NINTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA FIRST SESSION (2006-2011) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO.
153 • WHEREAS Article 162(1)(b) of the Constitution directs GECOM in relation to elections to issue such instructions and 'take such action as appear to it to be expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on the part of persons or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid'; • AND WHEREAS the laws relevant to financing campaigns of political parties as contained in Chapter 1:03 Laws of Guyana, Representation of the People Act Part XIII entitled 'Election Expenses' need to be updated; AND WHEREAS Guyana has noted several international instruments and mandates for addressing the issues of political party campaign financing most notably the following, which explicitly or indirectly address these issues: • As in the Declaration of Commitment of Port of Spain at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago April 19, 2009 where CARICOM heads of State reaffirmed their commitment to fostering credibility and public trust in democratic institutions, in particular the legitimacy of electoral processes; 2. t 74 • As in Article 5 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter where strengthening of political parties and other political organizations is recognized as a priority for democracy paying special attention to problems associated with the high cost of election campaigns and the establishment of a balance and transparent system for their financing; • As in Article 7 Section 3 of the United
 Nations Convention against Corruption, to which Guyana acceded on April 16, 2008, and which requires that each state party 'considers taking appropriate legislative and administrative measures to enhance transparency in the funding of candidatures for elected public office and ... the funding of political parties'; • As in Article 10 of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption adopted in Maputo on Julyll, 2003, each state party shall adopt legislative and other measures to incorporate the principle of transparency in funding of political parties; and prescribe the use of funds to finance political parties; • As in Recommendation (2003) 4 of the Committee of Ministers for the Council of Europe (CoE) to member states on common rules against corruption in the funding of political parties and electoral campaigns which was adopted by the CoE Committee of Ministers on April 8, 2003.
This international instrument primarily focuses on sources of funding — supporting a system that balances private and public financing — and on the merits of disclosure, AND WHEREAS this National Assembly recognizes that a strong democracy requires a healthy representative multi-party system, resources to sustain and operate a basic party structure capable of representing people, contributing creatively to the public policy debate, and contesting elections; /...3 3.
77 RESOLVED, That this National Assembly approves the establishment of a Special Select Committee to examine the existing laws and regulations regarding political parties' electoral expenses, examine legislation in other countries in relation to political party campaign financing and report its findings and recommendations for this National Assembly's consideration.

A Passed by the National Assembly on Thursday, 28th April, 2011.

S.E.
S.E.

ISAACS Clerk of the National Assembly S. E. ISAACS CLERK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY