Pres. Ali fulfils constitutional duty, begins major appointments consultation with LOO

In keeping with previous commitments made, President Dr Irfaan Ali is fulfilling constitutional responsibilities that require him to have meaningful consultations with the Leader of the Opposition (LOO) on key judicial appointments.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Ali told reporters that Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, has already dispatched correspondence to United States-indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on several constitutional appointments.

“Those mattes are being dealt with. So, wherever consultation is required in accordance with the Constitution, as I have said before, you can be assured that I will fulfil my mandate in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana,” the President declared.

On July 24, Minister Teixeira wrote the Opposition Leader on the appointments of three key constitutional bodies: the Judicial Service Commission (JSC); Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Local Government Commission (LGC).

Speaking on the matter during his programme, “Issues in the News”, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall subsequently revealed that Mohamed has since acknowledged receipt of the letters and indicated that Opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley would be corresponding on his behalf with the Government on these appointments. She has since submitted the Opposition’s recommendations for members to sit on the LGC.

“In relation to the Local Government Commission consultation, three names were put forward to His Excellency,” Nandlall indicated.

However, he went on to note that the Opposition merely acknowledged receipt of correspondence for the appointments of the other two commissions. “I don’t know what that means,” Nandlall stated, adding that a timeline was given to the Opposition regarding these three appointments.

“The letters were carefully crafted in accordance with the constitutional stipulations, and they all indicated a time within which a response is expected from the Leader of the Opposition, and a time also when the President is likely to make the decision in relation to that appointment,” the Legal Affairs Minister emphasised.

Moreover, AG Nandlall further pointed out that these consultations will continue for similar constitutional appointments, such as the Police Service Commission (PSC) for which the suitably-qualified persons are still being identified by the Head of State.

In light of these developments, the Attorney General rejected misinformation being peddled that President Ali is breaching his constitutional responsibilities.

“Those who are peddling misleading information out there that the President is refusing to comply with the Constitution or the relevant statutory provisions that require him to consult with the Leader of the Opposition, they should stop peddling that type of misinformation because these processes are ongoing,” Nandlall declared.

Prior to this declaration on Tuesday, President Ali had consistently maintained his intent to uphold his constitutional duties.

The Guyanese Leader told reporters that he would engage the Opposition Leader on matters that he is required to by the Constitution.

“Definitely, wherever my role as President requires the constitutional functions to be executed – as President I strongly believe in democracy and the rule of law and governing in keeping with the Constitution – you can expect that I will uphold the requirements of the Constitution,” Ali had also previously said.

At the time, he was asked about the substantive appointments of two top judicial offices. Currently, Justice Roxane George is serving as acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Navindra Singh as acting Chief Justice. They were appointed to these posts in August 2025.

Guyana has been without a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice for more than two decades and there have been repeated calls from the legal fraternity for these key judicial positions to be permanently filled.

Last October, President Ali had written then Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, seeking his agreement for the substantive appointments of Justice George and Justice Singh in their respective posts, but this was never received.

Mohamed only assumed his role as Opposition Leader in January this year. But the Head of State had told reporters that his recommendations still remain.

Mohamed, along with his father Nazar Mohamed, has been sanctioned and indicted by the US Government on gold smuggling and money laundering allegations. They are currently undergoing extradition proceedings to face the 11 charges filed in a Florida court last year.