Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang has said that a date will be announced for a ruling on the petition challenging the presidential term limit.
At last Friday’s in-chambers hearing, submissions were laid over on behalf of petitioner Cederick Richardson and the Attorney General (AG), who is listed as the first-named respondent.
Former Speaker Raphael Trotman was the second named respondent. Trotman’s attorney, Roysdale Forde, had however been granted May 11 to lay over his submissions.
After May 11th was subsequently declared a holiday to facilitate the country’s general elections, Forde’s submissions were handed over later on Friday afternoon. The Chief Justice had indicated that after these submissions would have been examined, a date will be announced for ruling.
Attorney Shaun Allicock made submissions on behalf of Richardson, who initiated the challenge in February.
Richardson has challenged the term limit, which prevents former President Bharrat Jagdeo from being a candidate for presidential elections on the grounds that it restricts the voters’ choice of candidates and such a restriction could only be effected through a referendum. The term limit was put in place by virtue of Act No. 17 of 2001, which added two clauses to the 1980 constitution to allow for re-election only once.
Jagdeo served two terms after being elected in 2001 and 2006. He has repeatedly maintained that he is not interested in a third term.
