Georgetown, Guyana – (May 16, 2018) President David Granger, today, said that the substantive appointments of Chancellor and Chief Justice will be further discussed with the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo in the coming weeks when they meet for discussions on constitutional appointments. Speaking to media operatives at the conclusion of the accreditation ceremony for the new Guatemalan Ambassador to Guyana at State House, the Head of State pointed out that he has already made his nominations public and it is now up to the Opposition Leader to act.
“I expect that we will meet with the Leader of the Opposition soon to deal with a range of appointments and that is one of them… I went through every possible legitimate means of getting the best advice. I have offered him my advice and he has rejected it. He has not come up with an alternate name and when we meet, I will raise the matter with him again. He knows who my nominees are, the public knows who my nominees are and I would like to ensure that the two top judicial appointments, the Chancellor and the Chef Justice are confirmed in their positions. It is very unhealthy to have a Chancellor and a Chief Justice who are acting and I would like to have them confirmed. These are persons who had gone through a process of interviews and the advice I received are that they are fit and proper to be appointed,” President Granger said.
The appointments, which require meaningful consultations and agreement between the Leader of the Opposition and the Head of State, have been stagnated as Mr. Jagdeo, on February 7, 2018, failed to show up for a scheduled meeting with President Granger, Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams at State House after he requested a one-month period to do, what he described as “his due diligence.” Since then, there has been no communication between the two parties on that matter.
Speaking to members of the media on the side-line of the recently concluded Government of Guyana, Commonwealth and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) sponsored Workshop for Judges and Prosecutors held at the Pegasus Hotel on May 3, 2018, the Head of State maintained that according to the requirements of the Constitution, without the compliance of the Opposition Leader, substantive appointments cannot be made.
“The ball is in the court of the Leader of the Opposition. I have made my proposals to him. He simply rejected them. He has not made any counterproposals so there is nothing to discuss… I would have hoped that we would have moved forward and been able to make substantive appointments but I have to depend on his compliance. I know what needs to be done but I have to wait on the Leader of the Opposition to respond to my proposals,” he said on that occasion.
The Head of State said that he also expects to discuss the appointment of the Police Complaints Authority, the Public Service Commission and the Police Service Commission as well with Mr. Jagdeo as soon as Parliament completes its work on the recommendations for these Commissions.
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