President stands by nominees for top judicial posts
President David Granger speaks with members of the media Wednesday in the presence of Minister of State Joseph Harmon (left). (Adrian Narine photo)
President David Granger speaks with members of the media Wednesday in the presence of Minister of State Joseph Harmon (left). (Adrian Narine photo)

– says took time in making decision

PRESIDENT David Granger on Wednesday reiterated that his choice for substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice remains Justices Kenneth Benjamin and Yonette Cummings-Edwards.

Speaking on the sidelines of an accreditation ceremony for the Argentine Ambassador to Guyana held at State House, the President said his position on the matter is well known. “That is well known, I took my time in making that decision and I am not prepared to throw it out of the window,” the head of state asserted of Justice Benjamin while maintaining that every action he has taken relative to the appointment of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice is in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.
“I am required by the Constitution to do certain things and I have obeyed the Constitution in every regard,” he said, noting the concerns and propositions made by members of the legal fraternity recently.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had rejected the President’s nominations of Benjamin and Cummings-Edwards but did not provide reasons for his rejection of the judges. The President had nominated Justice Kenneth Benjamin as Chancellor of the Judiciary and Madam Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards as Chief Justice following recommendations from a panel of eminent jurists who had conducted interviews with a number of candidates for the posts.

Guyana’s Constitution provides for full agreement between the President and Opposition for the appointment of both the Chancellor and Chief Justice. Over the past few months there have been strong opinions voiced on the way forward in the appointment of a substantive chancellor and chief justice here. Among those who weighed in are the Guyana Bar Association, the Guyana Women Lawyers Association, representatives of the Red Thread, a non-governmental organization, along with outgoing president and president-elect of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Sir Dennis Byron and Justice Adrian Saunders.

Many have called on President Granger to confirm acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards and acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, to the substantive posts. It should be noted that the acting Chief Justice did not apply for either position of chief justice or chancellor of the judiciary. There were five applicants, including the duo nominated for the two top posts. Asked whether he is inclined to confirm the acting chancellor and chief justice, the President replied, “I am inclined to support the constitution; the constitution makes it clear, very clear how the Chancellor must be appointed. I don’t have the authority to go outside of the Constitution.”

“Everything I have done is in accordance with the Constitution. If other people can tell me what part of the constitution empowers them, I would like to become aware of that myself. All of my actions have been in accordance with the Constitution.”

The head of state made it clear that he is prepared to act only in accordance with the constitution, the highest law of the land. That aside, the President is slated to meet with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to discuss that matter as well as the appointment of the Chairpersons of the service commissions.

He could not state definitively when the meeting will be held as he still awaits the lists of nominees from the National Assembly. “I have other business to discuss with him, the appointment of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and some other Commissions. When Parliament gives me those names, I would put all of those on the agenda for the meeting,” said President Granger, who noted that he had hoped to receive the names of the nominees by this time. Attempts to contact Jagdeo on the subject Wednesday proved futile.

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