Due to retire just over a month from now, acting Chancellor Carl Singh yesterday made it known that he will execute all his duties and responsibilities until then.
Speaking to members of the judiciary at the opening of a two day seminar on the new Civil Procedures Rules, Justice Singh declared that he demits office on February 23rd.
He stressed that this is the day “and not before,” a comment which generated much laughter followed by loud applause. “…Not when the (Guyana) Chronicle says I must leave… my constitutional tenure expires on the 23rd of February, 2017, and until such time unless my appointment is revoked,
I intend to exercise my functions as a judge,” Singh declared, while emphasising that up until that time he would carry out the duties and responsibilities entrusted to him. Singh’s comment was a reference to the Guyana Chronicle’s recent reportage on concerns, including by Attorney-General Basil Williams, about his attempting to hear cases in spite of his impending retirement.
One of the cases he is to deliberate on before he demits office is the appeal of the ruling made by now retired Chief Justice Ian Chang that the presidential term-limit is unconstitutional.
Despite a letter from Williams asking that the matter be adjourned until a new Solicitor-General is found, Justice Singh went ahead with the first hearing last week. He has set specific timeframes for written arguments and responses to be submitted. He is to announce his decision on February 15th.
On July 9th, 2015, then acting Chief Justice Chang, based on application by a private citizen, ruled that the presidential term-limit was unconstitutional without the approval of the people through a referendum.
It has been suggested that the challenge to the law was an attempt to pave the way for former president Bharrat Jagdeo to run for office a third time. Jagdeo has repeatedly distanced himself from the challenge.
While Williams and former Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman appealed Chang’s ruling, saying that he erred in law, it was only recently that a date for hearing was chosen–some 17 months after the appeals were filed.
Singh will leave office without being confirmed as Chancellor, a post he has held for more than ten years. Government has started the search to fill the vacancy.
