By Fareeza Haniff
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Following consultations with Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday, December 09, 2015, President David Granger nominated Justice of Appeal Madam Yonette Cummings-Edwards as Chief Justice.
The decision was made given the fact that acting Chief Justice, Ian Chang is proceeding on leave. A statement from the Attorney General’s Chambers revealed that Madame Cummings – Edwards was appointed after they considered that she is a woman with “many years experience as a Puisne Judge of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature, a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal, her competency and professionalism.”
However, Opposition Leader Jagdeo told an impromptu press conference at Freedom House today that the President’s nominee should be able to fulfill at least two criteria for the post of Chief Justice, such as being the most senior Judge on the bench.
Jagdeo also suggested that the President should seek an objective report from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on the performance of the nominee before the appointment is made.
“These two factors should determine the person who is appointed,” said Jagdeo, who noted that he made his suggestions known to the President.
The Opposition Leader further noted that the President never asked him if he had a nominee for the post but the question was put to him by the Attorney General, Basil Williams.
According to Jagdeo, he does not have a nominee and was only made aware of the President’s choice when he arrived for the meeting this morning at the Ministry of the Presidency.
When asked, the Opposition Leader could not say whether he is in agreement with the President’s nominee, pointing out that he does not know Madam Yonette Cummings-Edwards personally.
He explained that he is still “gathering information.” According to Jagdeo, “the media should seek to find out from the President’s office what process was used to determine that appointment.”
Meanwhile, a subsequent statement from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that President Granger described the nominee as the most suitable person to act in the position.
“We looked at the judges particularly, the judges in the appeal court and we felt that Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards was the person that could carry out the duties of Chief Justice. We felt she was the most suitable person. We looked at her experience; the decisions that she has given, her qualifications and we felt she was the most suitable when all these factors were taken into consideration”, the President said.
The President added that the consultative process was conducted completely in line with what is required by Guyana’s Constitution.
“The Constitution requires me to consult and having considered the potential candidates, I have made my choice. I am satisfied that she is a good person to fulfill that function and in due course I will have to have other consultations with the Leader of the Opposition to have a permanent appointee but right now Mr. Carl Singh is the substantive Chief Justice, he is acting Chancellor and I do hope that in due course we will be able to have substantive persons in both positions”’ he said.
And Barrat as OPPOSITION Lol
To even mention the name Burnham is tell us all who is really going BACK, you and many like you should be thanking Burnham for Banning,it was y’all who made millions on banned items,so move forward and start thinking of living like Guyanese and not like the last 23 yrs of PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROFITS/COCAINE,,AKA BARRAT
Veronica why don’t you shut you mouth.You are a racist and close minded person. Try to be fair weather is PPP or PNC.
The only people getting these senior roles are those who have the qualifications, experience, intellect and integrity to preform the roles appointed too…. Unlike the previous administration full of dimwits and unschooled party hacks who run the country into the ground….. Classic case of former AG dunce wife who couldn’t even do the job she was put in to do… If I was a law graduate from UG, or someone in the GRA department who had to watch that dunces’ underperformance day in day out I would seriously be thinking how the F*$% did she get the job….
yES THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THE KEY POSITIONS ARE THE QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCE PEOPLE AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ETHNICITY.THE PPP DURING THEIR TENURE IN OFFICE WERE PLACING UNQUALIFIED AND INEXPERIENCED PEOPLE IN KEY POSITIONS BECAUSE OF RACE AND PARTY AFFILIATION BUT THIS ISNT HAPPENING UNDER THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION WATCH SINCE ITS A SERIOUS GOVT SO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT RACISM JUST RETRACT FOR THE 23 YRS THE PPP WAS IN POWER AND WHAT THEY DID TO THE OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS AND OR BLACK PEOPLE BUT THAT WILL NEVER HAPPENED UNDER GRANGER AND MOSES WATCH SINCE THEY ARE A GOVT OF NATIOAL UNITY AND UNITED WE STAND AND DIVIDED WE FALL.LOMG LIVED THE COLATION..
The man in gwi has his friends to work with him look who are they one type of people soon gwi people will start to get water to the well kero lamp where blackout start to come in to play food item getting higher on a daily plan and things that plant in guyana sweet potatoes now selling at whole sale in georgetown for $ 140-160 per a pound apnu/afc said 100 days and all guyanese will get a better life six month and no better just crime and more crime shame shame old say when you shame take blackpat and rub on your face
You have not even begun to call names
We are going back to the days of Burnham,when Racism,Discrimination.Bullyism and Kick down the Door Bandits were rampat.Let the ABC Countries take notes
Do you really beileve that? What is your take on this: Jagan at GTT, Dindyal at GPL, Baksh at GWI and Chang as Chief Justice. Does that sound racist too?
Only one kind of people are getting these top positions. Need at GTT. Welch at GPL. Van West at GWI. Now Cummings as Chief Justice.
This is a blatantly racist government.