RECENTLY, there has been a big issue surrounding the appointments of a Chancellor and Chief Justice of the Judiciary in Guyana.
One section of society believes that President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, should address the issue urgently because it is now more than 17 years that Guyana has been without a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice (CJ).
This group also supports the thinking that President Ali is delaying, caviling and obstructing the process when they take all that he has said into account. Those who support this thought pattern also feel that the President and the party he represents, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), do not understand the constitutionality and the serious nature of having these two most crucial appointments made forthwith.

Also, some are supporting Dr. Ali’s and the PPP/C’s stance that the process to initiate appointments of the Chancellor and CJ will occur at the appropriate time. They believe that Dr. Ali will do as he is constitutionally and legally obligated to do when he believes the time is appropriate and right.
They also strongly feel that he should not be pressured, forced or influenced to do so without first having extensive time to think carefully and assess the situation before he exercises his deliberate judgement as President of Guyana.

Firstly, there is nothing unclear or untoward about what Dr. Ali said in his comments to the media on various occasions.
He does not come off as a politician who is deliberately skirting the issue, delaying the process and being an obstructionist.
If anything, the media would know that President Ali is one of the few politicians in Guyana who means what he says and stands by it.

The President could have a series of engagements occurring that involves the Attorney-General, other members of an advisory legal team, and politicians from the government side, exploring all avenues, including looking at the pros and cons of the appointment of acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George.
Similarly, he could have some other Judge of Guyana to propose for either or both positions.

Maybe, the President is just taking the time to choose the persons carefully and make his deliberate judgement, as he is legally and constitutionally mandated to do.
Secondly, there is no urgency or time frame that President Ali is mandated to make up his mind. He might have entered the political scene for some time, but he has only been President and Head of State for a short period of a little more than two years.

Also, there is no crisis in Guyana or situation that requires the substantive appointments to be made hurriedly. Both Justice Cummings-Edwards and Justice George are already in place and functioning until possible confirmation.
Assumingly, there has not been any argument made of any member of the other branches of the government trying to influence them in the dispatch of the functions of the offices of Chancellor or Chief Justice thus far. They are free and free from fear, it would appear.

Thirdly, the fact that the two political opposition leaders in the persons of Robert Corbin and David Granger stalled the proposals of the President’s party from the early 2000s right up to the year 2015 is telling.
According to Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall, S.C., former President Granger never tried to get the then Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo’s agreement to confirm the two members of the judiciary in the offices they hold. This is also very telling and worrying.

There are records and minutes of the meetings which show clearly that Granger was busy trying to get a candidate and a male at that confirmed.
Additionally, no one is hauling the Opposition over the coals for being obstructionists, caviling, and delaying the process over 13 years or more.
Is no one brave enough to stand on the side of truth and point out the double standards and hypocrisy of the Opposition?

So, it is bizarre that the Leader of the Opposition would expect the public and, more so, the President, to act swiftly and appoint these two persons to the office upon his no-objection this year and change his position.
What made the judges suddenly acceptable or fit and proper for the job to Norton’s opposition? Is it the colour of their skin or the texture of their hair? Is it the race or ethnicity of the acting Chancellor or Chief Justice (ag) that makes Norton’s opposition feel more comfortable?

One must ask is it their gender? Is it their rulings or professional qualifications? They have always been front-runners among their peers ever since 2015, when Granger went into power, and Norton succeeded Joseph Harmon as Opposition Leader.
It seems that this situation calls for closer and more in-depth political and strategic analyses because there is more than what meets the eye.
Something about the part or section of the media, particularly those so-called independent media houses, that is driving this agenda and hammering away at President Ali to act urgently on the two constitutional appointments.

Not that it is wrong, because the media has a role to play in holding governments accountable and exposing constitutional improprieties, but this section of the media in Guyana is deliberately trying to drive the President’s agenda and set the stage for whatever they think he should do.
One would think that they are part and parcel of some plan to have Dr. Ali boxed in and cornered on the two appointments, to the point where it is clear who he must appoint and when he must exercise his constitutional mandate.

Finally, there is no hurry to have the process initiated and there seems to be no sinister plan afoot to delay appointing a Chancellor or Chief Justice. If Guyana could wait 17 years, it could hold on for a little while longer until the President makes his decision or non-decision on the matter.
What the media should be concerned about is what caused Norton’s strategic change of heart on the choice of the Chancellor and CJ.