President says he is still "examining" issue of top Judicial appointments

President Irfaan Ali today downplayed the proposal by the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton for the Acting Chancellor and the Acting Chief Justice to be confirmed in their positions, telling reporters that the process of appointing officers to the top two judicial posts is clearly outlined in the Constitution.

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

The Opposition Leader had written to the President more than two years ago indicating his full support for the current Acting Chancellor and Acting Chief Justice to be confirmed in their posts.

“Of course, the matter of the Chancellor and the Chief Justice is important to me, it is important to our country, and I will continue to work to find a solution,” he said.

Guyana has not had a substantive Chancellor for two decades.

Justice Yonette Cummings has been the acting Chancellor since 2017. She took over from Justice Carl Singh, who acted from 2005-2017. Justice Roxanne George has also been acting as Chief Justice since 2017.

The President said while he will continue to examine the issue of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice, the Government has been supporting the development of the local Judiciary.

“We continue to examine the issue, and we are ensuring that the judiciary itself is well equipped not only with the infrastructure but with the human assets, so, the appointment of these judges in filling the different slots and of course, the Judicial Service Commission will now look at the High Court, because there will be opening there also. All of this is in the process,” the President said.

Earlier this year, the President of the Bar Association, Kamal Ramkarran said the situation is “untenable” and “unacceptable” as he called for Justice Cummings and Justice George to be confirmed to the top two judicial posts.

Ramkarran said the process is not that complicated, noting that Justices Cummings and George have been performing the duties of the top two judicial positions without issue, and therefore ought to be confirmed.