Chief Justice denies request to stop House-to-House Registration

Attorney Anil Nandlall who represented the interests of Christopher Ram in the matter, told the media after that "the Chief Justice did not grant the conservatory order which we sought to restrain the registration process".

Chief Justice denies request to stop House-to-House Registration

Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire this morning denied a request by Attorney Christopher Ram for the Court to grant an order to stop the house-to-house exercise by the Guyana Elections Commission.

Attorney Anil Nandlall who represented the interests of Christopher Ram in the matter, told the media after that “the Chief Justice did not grant the conservatory order which we sought to restrain the registration process”.

He, however, stated that the Chief Justice emphasized that she understands the CCJ’s ruling that “elections must be held by September 18 and she said that very clearly”.

Attorney General Basil Williams had a different understanding of what was said by the Chief Justice.

He said the three months issue was overtaken by the Court matters and therefore the next step would be the provision for a two-thirds majority for an extension by the Court.

Attorney General Basil Williams SC

Williams said the CCJ based on its ruling may be hopeful that the two parties will still get together and do as is required by the Constitution.

Although Chief Justice George-Wiltshire denied the order to stop the house-to-house registration exercise, she has given the applicants more time to put forward additional information with regards to the order asking for the Court to order the Elections Commission to hold elections by September 18.

Mr. Nandlall said that based on the arguments put forward in the original application, the Chief Justice has granted more time for additional information to be added since she did not find enough evidence to declare that GECOM was not making moves to prepare for elections.

The Attorney General Basil Williams said all of the orders now being asked of the Chief Justice were already dealt with by the Caribbean Court of Justice and he believes Ram’s move to the Court is an abuse of the Court and is also disrespectful of the higher Court.

The parties will return to the Court next week to further address the other matters.

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