Constitution

by GHK Lall Compliments of a Demerara Waves article (July 31) it was reported that coalition commissioners appear “softer on house-to-house-registration.” Softer is not a sign of weakness; it is of commonsense wisdom. The same must come from across the floor, since none holds any clear upper hand, nor would be able to claim any powerful position beyond an election. ...

Attorney General Basil Williams Monday night said President David Granger would remain in office and call elections if the opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) refuses to give its parliamentary support to extend the timeframe within which general elections must be held following last December’s no-confidence motion. “Let’s assume they don’t go and get the two-thirds extension…We have always argued ...

Attorney General, Basil Williams on Monday sought to downplay the fallout from the now eight-month old no-confidence motion on Guyana’s business climate, even as two prominent opposition-aligned lawyers forecast a rough period. Speaking during a panel discussion organised by the American Chamber of Commerce Guyana (AMCHAM-G) on the topic “The implication of the CCJ (Caribbean Court if Justice) Consequential Orders ...

Guyana’s Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire is next week expected to rule on whether the house-to-house registration exercise should be halted to make way for general elections following the Caribbean Court of Justice’s (CCJ) validation of last year’s no-confidence motion. Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall, who is representing political commentator Christopher Ram, said George-Wiltshire would on August 14 rule on whether the registration ...

Pro-coalition election commissioners on Wednesday afternoon emerged from a three-hour meeting, gagged by their new Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, and seemingly softer on their demand for house-to-house registration. Charles Corbin told reporters that he and colleague commissioners Vincent Alexander and Desmond Trotman responded to Justice Singh’s questions and “any further comment on these discussions could only be made by ...

The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-aligned election commissioners on Wednesday raised the issue of house-to-house registration in a meeting with newly-appointed Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh. “The issue of house-to-house registration was raised… what should be happening, claims and objections, etcetera; those were all issues that were discussed,” one of the PPP commissioners, Sase ...

Newly-appointed Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh on Monday vowed to make decisions based on Guyana’s laws and the constitution, while signaling that she would not tolerate any walkouts from meetings of the seven-member commission. “I am just that, I can do something good for Guyana. There is one way: in accordance with the law, ...

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) on Sunday called on the new Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson to resist pressure for halting house-to-house registration, amidst incessant calls by the opposition for elections to be held swiftly with a claims and objections period to update the existing voters’ list. “Justice (Claudette) Singh’s first task has to do with the contentious issue of ...

Key diplomats on Friday afternoon welcomed the appointment of retired Justice Claudette Singh as the new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). British High Commissioner Greg Quinn tweeted, “I welcome this extremely positive development. I look forward to meeting the new GECOM chair. All relevant actors are to be congratulated on this agreement. #Guyana”. Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, ...

Retired Justice Claudette Singh is the new Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), government and the opposition confirmed. “We’re very, very happy with this development. The process was consensual.  The names on the list enjoy my confidence and enjoy the confidence of the President. They were found not unacceptable to him and, therefore, he chose from a list not ...