Acting Chancellor, Acting Chief Justice sworn in

They both took the Oath of Office before President Irfaan Ali on Monday. The media were not invited to the event and it was not streamed live on the President’s Facebook page.

The appointments came as acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, is proceeding on leave.

In brief remarks, according to the Office of the President, Dr Ali stated that the appointments were made in the interest of maintaining continuity and ensuring the efficient functioning of the Judiciary in the offices of Chancellor and Chief Justice.

He reportedly added that the temporary filling of Justice Cummings-Edwards’s absence reflects the administration’s commitment to justice, fairness and the rule of law, which are essential to the country’s democratic framework.

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton last month said he refused President Ali’s invitation to engage in meaningful consultations because judges senior to Justice Singh were bypassed. Mr Norton also claimed that Justice Singh was perceived as sympathetic to the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic. Guyana has been without a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice for more than 20 years because of the failure of the President and the Opposition Leader to reach constitutionally required consensus.

Since becoming Opposition Leader, Mr Norton had publicly and in writing to the President said he favoured justices George-Wiltshire and Cummings being appointed substantively to Chief Justice and Chancellor, but the President has not done so.

The People’s Progressive Party had, through the Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and then government minister Nigel Dharamlall, openly expressed concern about a number of Guyana Court of Appeal decisions that had been subsequently overturned by the Caribbean Court of Justice, Guyana’s final appeal court. In most instances, the Guyana High Court decisions had been upheld by the CCJ.