There is a disagreement over which judge should hear the legal challenges to the controversial appointments of the Mabaruma mayor and the chairs for five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) even as calls continue to be made for the matters to be speedily resolved so that the work of the affected local government organs can begin.
Following a hearing on Wednesday, attorney Anil Nandlall, who filed the challenges two weeks ago on behalf of PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha, said it is up to the judiciary to rectify the situation.
Nandlall explained that when the matters were filed, the Constitutional Court’s judge, who is the acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, was out of the country on leave. He acknowledged that the matters ought to be heard by the Constitutional Court but said that since the judge was unavailable he made contact with the Chancellor’s office and requested that a judge be assigned, because “it is an important case and time is of the essence.”
As a result, Justice Diana Insanally, who had granted the interim orders to quash the