-by Svetlana Marshall-

President Irfaan Ali today announced that all members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) will be sworn in before the end of the week. It’s a move that would pave way for the reconstitution of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Police Service Commission.

The announcement was made at the President’s press conference this morning.

“Our intention is to have all the members of the Public Service Commission sworn in before the end of this week, this will pave the way for the full complement of members for the Judicial Service Commission, and for the commencement of work from the Judicial Service Commission, and also, the full complement of members from the Police Service Commission,” the President said.

Under the Constitution, the Public Service Commission is required to have six members – three members appointed by the President, after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition; two members appointed by the President based on nomination by the National Assembly; and if the President thinks fit, one other member appointed by him, in accordance with his own deliberate judgement.

Guyana has been without a Public Service Commission since the life of the last Commission expired in August 2021. The absence of a Public Service Commission has hampered the work of the Police Service Commission and other bodies.

Though President Ali had moved to appoint a Police Service Commission, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, in a ruling last August, said that the Police Service Commission was not duly constituted as a result of the absence of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission as required by the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the country has also been without a Judicial Service Commission (JSC) since September 12, 2017, stymying the appointment of Judges and other judicial officers.

Earlier this year, the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings complained that the shortage of judges has resulted in the remaining judges being overworked.

She complained that the limited pool of judges was further depleted with the retirement of at least two other judges.

Just recently former Speaker of the National Assembly, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran said the country’s judicial system was on the verge of a collapse, largely due to the absence of a Judicial Service Commission.

Related posts:

Members of Judicial Service Commission appointed by President Ali President appoints new Public Service Commission; Ignores Opposition’s objections to two nominees President again promises establishment of Public Service and Judicial Service Commissions “very soon” President’s suspension of Police Service Commission was unlawful and unconstitutional -High Court rules