Politics

The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Friday said it would appeal the High Court’s refusal to order President David Granger to appoint one of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo’s 18 nominees for the position of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). “We will be filing an appeal to challenge this decision in our ultimate quest to secure constitutional compliance. ...

The High Court on Friday discarded all of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary, Zulficar Mustapha’s grounds to scrap the appointment of Retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), including one that he was a pallbearer of People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Leader Desmond Hoyte. Mustapha, through his lawyer Anil Nandlall, had stated that Justice ...

Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire on Friday ruled that President David Granger was constitutionally right to appoint Retires Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). She said the President enjoyed the constitutional right to reject the entire list and appoint someone from the judicial category. In handing down her decision on a case brought by Executive Secretary ...

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Thursday urged the Guyanese Parliament to amend its drafted Cybercrime Bill, which could have a damaging effect on press freedom. On June 7, RSF sent a letter to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo outlining its concerns with the legislation. While the Guyanese government has a legitimate interest in regulating the internet to ensure certain criminal activity—such ...

President David Granger on Wednesday refused to back down from his preference for overseas-based Justice Kenneth Benjamin to be appointed Chancellor of the Judiciary, in the face of intensified calls for the acting Chancellor and Chief Justice to be confirmed. “That is well-known, that is well-known. I took my time in making that decision and I am not prepared to ...

Venezuela has announced that it will be going to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, along with representatives of Guyana regarding the border controversy over the Essequibo region of Guyana, over which Venezuela claims sovereignty. Venezuela’s Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs said its decision to participate in the ICJ court proceedings followed an ICJ communication it received on June 4, ...

A meeting of the seven-member Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Tuesday collapsed after People’s Progressive Party (PPP) representative, Robeson Benn and GECOM Chairman, James Patterson clashed over the racial composition of the election management authority’s staff. Patterson objected to Benn’s public statement last month that about 90 percent of GECOM’s staff are Afro-Guyanese, a situation he said was either racist or ...

Guyana held its first gay pride parade, with the country’s gay rights activists accusing the three-year old government as well as the opposition of breaking their election campaign promises to outlaw discrimination against vulnerable groups. “We are saying enough of the rhetoric, enough of the promises. It is time to make good on the legislative changes that we heard about ...

Four and a half years into a five year Government Amerindian Land Titling Project, its work programme only 26 per cent completed. The project life comes to an end in October 2018, having stared in 2013 and, according to Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Vice President Sidney Allicock, the work programme will require another decade work before it could be ...

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams and Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall- the man he took over from in 2015- may soon battle at the Guyana Court of Appeal over whether the High Court enjoys the right to order the Executive to activate the Judicial Review Act. Williams wants more time to hold consultations and possibly amend the Act ...