Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings returned to work this week after more than two months off on vacation leave.

With the return of the Acting Chancellor to the bench, Justice Roxane George has reverted to her role as Acting Chief Justice after performing the functions of Acting Chancellor in the absence of Justice Cummings.

Justice Navindra Singh, who has been acting as Chief Justice will also revert to his substantive position as Justice of Appeal.

The Acting Chancellor proceeded on leave in early August, but there was some confusion as to her status within the Judiciary last week as she was referred to as the former Acting Chancellor during the swearing in of CCJ Judge, Dr. Arif Bulkan.

Acting Chancellor Cummings has been performing in that position since 2017. Guyana has not had a substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary since 2005 when the late Chancellor, Justice Desiree Bernard left the position to take up an appointment as Judge on the Caribbean Court of Justice.

The last substantive Chief Justice was former Acting Chancellor, Justice Carl Singh.

He retired in 2017 as Acting Chancellor, having served in that acting position for over 12 years.

With no substantive appointment of a Chancellor in over 20 years and no substantive appointment of a Chief Justice in almost 20 years, there continues to be growing calls for substantive appointments to be made.

Just last week, recently elevated President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Justice Winston Anderson issued a call for substantive appointments to be made to the top two judicial posts in Guyana.

During a visit to Guyana last week, Justice Anderson told reporters that the Judiciary would like to see the confirmation of a Chancellor and Chief Justice in Guyana. He said the two offices ought to be occupied by persons who are confirmed in their positions.

Justice Anderson’s predecessor at the Caribbean Court, Justice Adrian Saunders had also issued a call for the substantive appointments to be made. In a 2022 visit to Guyana, while he served as CCJ President, Justice Sauders said the non-confirmation of the top two judicial posts in Guyana was a significant blot on an otherwise impressive Guyanese legal and judicial landscape.

He called the situation regrettable. The Guyana Bar Association has also been calling for substantive appointments to be made.

For a Chancellor and Chief Justice to be appointed, the Constitution stipulates that there must be agreement between the President and the Opposition Leader.

Almost three years ago, then Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton wrote to the President indicating his support of the confirmation of Justices Cummings and George to the two top judicial posts, but there was no movement on the issue by the President.

Related posts:

President makes temporary appointments of Justice George as Acting Chancellor and Justice Singh as Acting Chief Justice Norton maintains support for confirmation of Justices Cummings and George to top judicial posts Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards moves up to Acting Chancellor and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire is new Acting Chief Justice Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards to perform functions of Chief Justice