Hughes urges President to share criteria for top Judicial nominees.

Leader of the Alliance For Change, Nigel Hughes has called on the President to make his criteria for the appointment of the substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice known to the public.

At a recent press conference, President Irfaan Ali said he is actively considering the appointments, while dodging questions as to whether he has found favour in the two Judges who are currently acting in the positions.

AFC Leader, Nigel Hughes said from all indications, the President might have his own nominees for the top Judicial positions.

“It is now evident that President Ali does not intend to confirm either the Chancellor Ms. Yonette Cummings, or the Chief Justice, Ms. Roxanne George in their respective positions. They have served in these positions for seven years and it is evident now that he does not plan to confirm them,” Mr. Hughes noted.

The AFC Leader said given that it is an election year, the President may want to make appointments to the Judiciary outside of those acting, but those appointments will have to be examined with some level of suspicion.

“In the interest of transparency and in the interest of this country, we believe that the basis on which Judges, the Chancellor and the Chief Justice is appointed, in their individual cases must be made public. So, we first of all must know what the criteria is, this should no longer be left to the Head of State as some form of privilege, but the entire country should know what the selection criteria is for the appointment of Judges whether at the High Court of Court of Appeal,” Mr. Hughes said.

Hughes said the issue of Acting appointments in the Judiciary has gone on for too long and does not augur well for the legal profession.

“So, in the case of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice, if the President does not intend to confirm them, he needs to inform all of us about the reason why he would have allowed them to have acted seven years and now at this late stage of the day not confirm them,” the AFC Leader said.
Further, Mr. Hughes there has been a lot of suspicion and disquiet in relation to the upcoming appointments to the Court of Appeal.

He also said although there were Judges identified for the Court of Appeal, there have been no appointments there.

The President must secure the agreement of the Opposition Leader for the appointments to the top judicial posts. The Opposition Leader has offered his no objection if the nominees are the two Judges currently acting in the top two positions.