By Jomo Paul
Richardson has filed a writ to nullify the move by Guyana ‘s National Assembly to restrict a President to be able to serve only two terms in office contending that it is illegal in its current form and such a constitutional reform should have been done by way of referendum.
Allicock told iNews that given the current pace of the hearings, it is likely that a decision will be made in early April. He said that at the last hearing, the defence – Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman were given seven days to respond to the Court.
The next date for the hearing is set for March 23. Another of Richardson’s Attorneys, Emily Dodson had told iNews that for such a major constitutional reform to be undertaken without the say of the wider population was wrong, hence the reason for the writ seeking for it to be deemed illegal.
She said that it is outrageous for a 65 member parliament to sit and “fiddle” with the constitution in such a manner without having a referendum being undertaken.
A referendum is a direct vote in which the electorate is asked to vote on a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, or a law.
