Georgetown: President David Granger was constitutionally right to appoint Retires Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled on Friday.
In handing down her decision on a case brought by Executive Secretary of the opposition People’s Progressive Party, Zulfikar Mustapha, the Chief Justice noted that the President enjoyed the constitutional right to reject the entire list and appoint someone from the judicial category.
She awarded costs to the State in the sum of GY$250,000.
Mustapha was represented by a legal team headed by Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall, while the State was represented by Attorney General, Basil Williams; Solicitor General Kim Kyte and Barbadian Queens Counsel, Ralph Thorne and Gollop.
On October 23, 2017 the Opposition filed an injunction at the High Court to rescind President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of GECOM on the grounds of unconstitutionally.
Patterson was appointed after Granger rejected three lists of 18 names submitted by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo for the post of GECOM Chairman.
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