Georgetown: The Government is under mounting pressure for the confirmation of a Chancellor of the Judiciary.
The Guyana Bar Association, during a recent oil and gas conference at the Ramada Hotel, Providence, appeared to have confidence in Yonette Cummings-Edwards being given the nod to be confirmed into that position in which she is currently acting.
However, the administration has already nominated Justice Kenneth Benjamin for that critical post.
Under the current laws, the Government must consult with the Opposition Leader for the appointments.
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, last month signalled his rejection of Benjamin and Cummings-Edwards who was nominated for the Chief Justice post.
Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) said it would like to thank the Bar Association for educating the general public on the constitutional responsibilities of the President and Leader of the Opposition with regards to the appointment of the Chancellor and Chief Justice of Guyana.
“The PSC is concerned that the President and Leader of the Opposition were unable to come to an agreement on the appointments after a lengthy process. The PSC is calling on the President and the Leader of the Opposition, in the national interest, to again confer in good faith and agree on the persons to be appointed substantively Chancellor and Chief Justice as required by the Constitution without further delay. “
PSC, a business body representing some of the country’s biggest entities, including banks, said that an independent judiciary is important for a thriving democracy, and all actions that may impair the independence of the Judiciary should be avoided at all cost.
At the Ramada Hotel, earlier in the day, Treasurer of the Bar Association, Attorney-at-law Devendra Kissoon, in introducing the acting Chancellor, said she is a fiercely independent official.
The lawyer urged that she and current acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, two “wonderful persons” be confirmed.
The introduction was met with a standing ovation.
At the event were several judges, magistrates, lawyers, and Ministers Joseph Harmon, Khemraj Ramjattan and Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland.
Questioned later on the stance of the administration, the State Minister during the post-Cabinet press briefings made it clear that there is a consultative process in choosing persons for the two positions.
Already, the Leader of the Opposition has signalled his rejection of the nominees submitted by Government for the two positions.
The president has been seeking legal advice on the matter, Harmon disclosed.
The Government and the Opposition have been at odds over the appointments of persons to a number of key positions.
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