Chief Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire this afternoon threw out an application by the opposition People’s Progressive Party to get the Court to force the Cabinet to resign in keeping with the passage of the no-confidence matter.
The Chief Justice in her ruling described the PPP’s application as vexatious and an absolute abuse of the process of the Court, pointing out that the matter was already taken before the Highest Court for Guyana and was rejected.
She said she could not understand how it was expected that a lower Court should deal with the matter now.
The Chief Justice in her ruling said the pronouncements of the Caribbean Court of Justice and the orders made in the consequential orders judgement, must be read dispassionately and objectively, adding that while the applicant may be dissatisfied with the conclusion of the CCJ, he cannot seek to overturn or reinterpret it by filing an application before the High Court.
Attorney Anil Nandlall who filed the application was disappointed by the Court’s decision and has indicated that he intends to appeal the matter.
After the hearing, he told reporters that the Chief Justice’s decision “must be appealed in the interest of Constitutionality”. He said the decision of the Court has plunged the country “deeper” into a Constitutional Crisis.
Nandlall wanted the Court to compel the Cabinet inclusive of the President to resign, pointing to the Constitution and its provisions on the passage of a no-confidence motion.
Attorney General Basil Williams welcomed the ruling by the Chief Justice. He said the decision has restored the position of the rule of law in Guyana.
Mr. Williams said since the CCJ had already determined the matter at the highest level, it was not fit or proper for the same application to be brought before a lower Court.
“Our Courts are exhibiting great patience as I see it because this is a matter that has been ventilated in all of the Courts and the learned Chief Justice is correct by saying that it was a vexatious matter”, the AG said.
The Attorney General said the Opposition’s Attorney Anil Nandlall ought to be careful that he is not now seen as a vexatious litigant since he was part of all of the previous proceedings before the Courts on the same matter.
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