Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton says he is in agreement that Justice Yonnette Cummings be appointed the substantive post of Judiciary Chancellor and Justice Roxanne George Wiltshire also confirmed as Cheif Justice.
Norton’s agreement was communicated to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Gail Teixeira through a missive signed by his representative and fellow Member of Parliament, Roysdale Forde, S.C.
Forde said that Norton’s approval is in keeping with Article 127 (1) of the Guyana Consitution, which states that the Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall each be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.
Norton, in a tweet today, wrote: “The ball is in your court Mr. President”, with a copy of the letter sent to Teixeira.
His agreement for confirmation comes against the backdrop of clamour from a wide cross-section of society that both Justices be appointed.
Even the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders had expressed disappointment in the sloth of confirmation. He said that it is the “one significant blot on an otherwise impressive Guyanese legal and judicial landscape”.
“For the country to have not appointed a Chancellor for 17 long years is very disappointing; likewise, to be without an appointed Chief Justice for several years. As the President of your final court, I believe I have a right and a duty publicly to express the view that Guyana should not let this year pass and not remedy this regrettable situation,” the CCJ President said at an event back in April of this year.
Saunders’ comments are aligned with those expressed by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, who recently noted that change to the procedure that appoints these important judicial operatives warrant change.
He said that the formula that requires consensus between the President and the Opposition Leader for the appointment of a Chief Justice and Chancellor, has not worked in the more than two decades it was put in place.
Similar sentiments were expressed recently by the President of the Guyana Bar Association, Pauline Chase, who called for changes to the process, underscoring that it is “inimical” to the rule of law that there are acting appointments of highest judicial officers.
