Justice Cummings goes into early retirement, George-Wiltshire remains acting chancellor and Singh acting chief justice

Last Updated on Saturday, 25 October 2025, 1:44 by Writer

President Irfaan Ali on Friday announced that , at her request, Justice Yonette Cummings, the Chancellor of the Judiciary, would proceed on pre-retirement leave from October 27 and on early retirement, and that Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire would continue to act as Chancellor of the Judiciary.

“After due consideration, I acceded to this request,” he said in a video statement disseminated by the government’s Department of Public Information.

The President also said that Justice Navindra Singh would continue to act as chief justice.

Dr Ali said Justice Singh was earlier on Friday sworn in as a member of the Judicial Service Commission.

“I take this opportunity to thank Madam Justice Cummings Edwards for her long service to the judiciary and the people of Guyana, I express my personal appreciation for her many years of public service,” the President said of Justice Cummings.

The President’s announcement of Justice Cummings’ decision came two days after concerns were raised about the fact that Justice George-Wiltshire resorted to using the conference room at the High Court on her return there. That was after Justice Cummings returned to work after vacation.

Several top elected officials of the People’s Progressive Party Civic-led administration had repeatedly raised concerns about the local Court of Appeal’s decisions in political cases which were subsequently overruled by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The opposition People’s National Congress Reform-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is on record as expressing concerns about the political neutrality of acting chief justice Singh.